Kohima, January 29 (MExN): The Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) has clarified today that its meeting with tribe Hohos and civil society organizations on January 22 was not with the intent to defer election and go for solution but just to “take stock of the situation” at a “crucial socio-political situation.” A press note from NJCF maintained that any decision towards election or solution “is not within the jurisdiction of the church.” “However, since Nagas for a very long time have not been able to come together, it was felt that in a time such as this, unless leaders who are called to lead our people are able to come together and seek wisdom and discernment our society will become directionless,” noted the NJCF. Further, “We all seem to know what must be done but the trust deficit that exists among our leaders has led us further away from each other, where we are not able to come together on issues that deeply touch our existence as a people.” The NJCF intention, noted the press statement, was to “bring our leaders together to a moment of reasonable reasoning.” In the meeting, the NJPF informed, the leaders expressed “their frustrations, disappointment and anger that the voice of the people were not taken into consideration.” The body iterated that “We cannot be only at the stage of emotion but what we face as challenging must sink down to reasonable deliberation where people will be able to take us seriously. Our unity must be constructive and not vindictive. We must seek to deliberate on what is possible and leave the impossibilities into the hand of God.” Thus, the NJCF urged upon Nagaland’s leaders to “reasonably converse with each other and come out with mature decision.” They also urged upon the churches to pray so that “God’s will be done in our midst as it is in heaven.”
