Kohima, Oct 24 (NEPS): Nagaland Minister for Planning and Urban Development and leader of the major ruling party NPF in the State, Dr Shurhozelie said Goa Governor SC Jamir should have a “peaceful retired life.” He was interacting with the NEPS here at his official residence today.
Queried as to why situation in the State “gets alarmed” whenever Jamir visits Nagaland and that his recent visit to Chuzuba in connection with a Chakhesang Youth Front event had given a major jolt to the NPF party, Dr Shurhozelie said SC Jamir was Chief Minister of Nagaland for many years and he had also ‘done many things for the Naga people.’ “If so, we should allow him to have a peaceful retired life,” he pointed out, adding, “His rising is over.”
Asked whether he meant to say that Jamir should retire from politics, Dr Shurhozelie asserted that “he (Jamir) is now the Governor of Goa as such he should live a peaceful life.”
He also clarified on the resignations of two NPF Youth leaders from the party, saying that “If they didn’t do it, we were going to do it.” Because they knew they would not be kept in the party and in fact, they took wise decision to resign without facing any embarrassment, he pointed out.
Dr Shurhozelie also blasted Nagaland Congress leaders for their repeated “claims” that the Naga peace process was promoted to that of “Ministerial level” by the present Congress-led UPA Government at the Center. “They (Nagaland Congress leaders) are small fry and do not know anything what is going on at the Centre,” he said. These Congress leaders in Nagaland should also change their mindset that tried to give everything for whatever things done at the Center to the Congress just because the UPA was led by their party (Congress). They should know there were other major political partners in the Government too, he maintained.
Reiterating his earlier statement that factional clashes and killings should not be described as “law and order issue,” the Minister alleged that it was a Congress ploy to create an impression that factional issues were law and order problems, so that they would try to convince the Center to dismiss the present DAN Government in the State, he asserted.
Dr Shurhozelie also said they welcomed the Government of India’s ceasefire with the NSCN-IM and with the NSCN-K because such developments gave “breather” to the Naga people. “Besides this, we have also been pleading, when both factions entered into ceasefires with the Government of India, to have ceasefires amongst them,” he stated, adding, “Not only our party, all NGOs pleaded the very points that there should not be any factional killings.”
Terming as “most shameful” the killings amongst the factions ‘in the eyes of the world,’ Dr Shurhozelie expressed that the continued factional conflict has confused the minds of the people. “Let them convince the Naga people that by this act of violence amongst them would bring solution,” he said. “But they cannot convince the Nagas with their ideology so long they continue fighting amongst them as such acts amongst them will lead nowhere.” So if they were really working for the rights of the Naga people, “they must stop these fratricides,” he added.
Asked for his comment as to why the NSCN-K rejected pleas of Naga NGOs, the Minister said, “If any group when sincerely feels that they are fighting for the Nagas, they should listen to the voice of the people. Because they cannot suppress the Nagas through force,” he added.
