Dimapur, January 13 (MExN): Former Chief Minister of Nagaland and presently Governor of Goa SC Jamir has said that Nagas must have Constitutional safeguards to ensure that the tribal and political identity of the Naga people is protected. These safeguards should be beyond the purview of Constitutional amendments, he said.
In a press note issued by Sebastian Zumvu, OSD to the Governor of Goa, Jamir said this while interacting with senior scholars, writers, former diplomats and Constitutional authorities from the South Asian countries last night here who paid a courtesy call on him.
Jamir reiterated that there is some sort of vacuum in the hearts and minds of the tribals of the Northeastern part of India who still cannot fully identify themselves with the rest of the country because of the centuries of social and geographical isolation. “We still cannot accurately express in English or any other language our political aspirations and what we aspire for,” he said. “Every Naga is consciously aware of his distinct identity which has to be preserved, protected and promoted. Nagas will stoutly defend their political identity and that it should find an honourable place while drawing up any political design to meet the aspirations of the people. We want something better than what we have, be it political or economic. We want that we should be equal citizens with the rest of the country. And this can come about only when we are recognized as a distinct people and when we are economically well off as anyone else in the country.”
He opined that this is why the tribals in the region, especially the Nagas should have Constitutional safeguards which cannot be subjected to amendments by any future party or parties which come to power at the Centre.
At the same time, he also said economic safeguards should be provided since no political settlement can be practicable without ensuring economic arrangements for the people.
He was of the opinion that in the changed global scenario economic sovereignty is as important, if not more, than political sovereignty. He pointed out the example of the European Union where countries which have fought two Wars in the last century when millions of people died have now come together to share one political and economic entity.
“Interdependence is the key to success in today’s world,” he said and questioned if the concept of sovereignty propounded by late AZ Phizo in Nagaland in the earlier half of the last century could be the same for the present-day Naga generation in view of the changes of the 21st Century. Times have changed and so have the imperatives of the times, he said.
