Mokokchung, May 5 (MExN): Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr. Imtiwapang Aier on Thursday asserted unity among the Naga brethren is hooked inside Article 371 (A).
The NLA Speaker was addressing the Thanksgiving service in his honour on being appointed at the helm of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly at Kobulong Town in Mokokchung District.
He recalled that during the Naga Movement for Sovereignty in the 1950’s there was a strong bond of unity among our forefathers and because of that unity, the others (India) were unsuccessful to manipulate their influence or penetrate into our society.
However, pointing to the extreme divisions among the Naga brethrens at present, he lamented that others have gained momentum to manipulate their influence. “They are doing whatever they want because of disunity among the Nagas,” Dr. Aier observed.
He was dwelling on some of the points from 16 point agreement which required unity among the people for drastic measures.
The speaker asserted the privileges such as Nagaland state being put under the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and which has been removed without the knowledge of Nagas.
He further explained the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in 1972, resolved a resolution to re- instate the state of Nagaland under the Ministry of External Affairs but it was neglected and no follow up was taken up.
“Such specials privilege – A Country within a country – has been removed because the Nagas were not united,” he remarked.
Dr. Aier also pointed on revocation of special funds for Nagaland provided under Consolidated Fund of India and special category status and said today we are left with nothing to get special grants as before.
Nevertheless, Dr. Aier also cautioned that today there is a big tussle on land and its resources between the Government of India and the state. “The Government of India is claiming that land is yours but resources are ours,” he stated, adding, “There is no other issues but their claim in our Oil & Natural gas.”
In this connection, Dr. Aier asked if Nagas want only their land or their resources also and asserted, “Depending solely on the state government to clear the messes won’t help but it needs unity and active participation from the people to win this fight.”
On Urban Local bodies’ election crises, the speaker viewed that the turmoil was started because of miscommunication between the state government and the civil societies.
Reminding that the first Chief Minister of Nagaland and the first Ao to become the speaker of NLA is from Asetkong range, he said that this blessing has been showered by the Mission Centre “Impur” and till today, the people of this constituency have been reaping abundant blessings because of Impur.
He also asserted that this blessing is bestowed by God because of unity among the Asetkong range. Therefore, we must always thank God for his blessings, he stated.
The programme was attended by village councils, adhoc town committees and party functionaries under 23 Impur Constituency. Short speeches were also tendered by representatives from each village councils, adhoc town committees, 23 Impur A/C NPF and NPF Mokokchung Division.
