Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 14
The Naga National Council (NNC) and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) today celebrated the 70th Naga Independence Day here at the Transit Peace Camp. FGN Kedahge, General (Retd.) Viyalie Metha unfurled the National flag.
Speaking during the occasion, NNC President Adinno Phizo in her speech said “before 1947, Nagas and Indians hardly knew each other. But with the changing of times, Nagas under AZ Phizo led the Naga representatives and met all prominent Indian leaders to understand each other’s position.”
She said Nagas sought peace and harmony between Nagaland and India but India responded with war and brought divide and rule. “A small nation surrounded by armed forces of a giant nation is unthinkable but it is going on between Nagaland and India,” said Adinno.
She said the Nagas have gone through a horrific time during the war with India (1954-1964). “We shall always remember our people who sacrificed for the nation,” she added.
Phizo also said that in the past, Nagaland was a self sufficient country, and claimed “people were happy, trusting and honest. No ‘tribalism’ unlike the present, it only started by the educated people who fight for jobs/salary with false pride. It is everyone’s duty to keep the country safe from evil and return to normality.”
Gen. (Retd) Metha meanwhile paid respect to the “great leaders who pioneered to bring the Nagas once scattered, together as one family.” He extended gratitude to all national workers of the NNC and FGN for their dedication and sacrifices.
For seventy years Nagas have been endlessly suffering in the hands of Indian occupational Armed Forces. People who lack integrity were bribed to go against the government to weaken it. One of the recent Indian acts of notoriety is forcing the innocent Naga public to obtain Indian citizenship card called ‘Adhaar’ card, without which our people are denied to avail facilities even on payment of their daily utilities such as cooking gas, telephone and banking services etc. whereas, it is voluntary for genuine Indians. Unfortunately this cannot make a Naga an Indian or a Mongolian an Aryan,” Metha said.
He also stated that over the past few years, “our land has been plagued by extortionist so-called governments of factional groups who made peace agreement with India but peace is not found amongst themselves and with the people.”
He added that there can be only one government for a nation and said propagators of multiple governments in the land are trying to fool others. Metha also said “now is time to move forward for a brighter future of our people as one family. And for which, my appeal goes to those who had done wrong in the past to refrain from repeating wrong doing.”
