Yimchungrü Students’ Union Dimapur turns 25
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 8
Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio, today said Nagas should know when to fight, when to divide and when to make peace and unite.
The Lok Sabha MP said Nagas have wasted enough time “quarrelling” and “fighting” and that if they continue fighting, then their image would be destroyed and other people instead of coming closer to Nagas would run away from them.
“Fighting is our culture. The more you tell Nagas to unite, the more they will divide”, Rio said and added it is high time that Nagas ponder seriously on how to live in peace among themselves and with other neighbours. He lamented that Naga leaders have failed to rise above tribal lines and embrace the spirit of “Nagaism.” Addressing the silver jubilee celebration of the Yimchungrü Students’ Union Dimapur (YSUD), Rio also said many Nagas are “confused” on the ‘Framework Agreement’ to bring about lasting peace and solution to the Naga political problem.
According to Rio, the ‘Agreement’ provides a ray of hope and that Nagas should not miss the opportunity. “I am not propagating for the ‘Framework Agreement’ but the fact is GoI has now recognized the unique history and situation of the Naga people, and that is what we have been all along fighting for,” he said.
He said if the Naga ceasefire breaks down, then Nagas would once again undergo sufferings and the lines would be blurred as to who will be on the Indian side, how many Nagas would become informers of Indian agencies and how many patriots would still be on the Naga side.
“If we miss this opportunity, we’ll sink further and further and in the end, it will not be our adversaries but Nagas themselves who will be the cause of our own defeat,” Rio said.
The former chief minister said Christianity and education have transformed Naga society and placed Nagas on a more or less equal footing to compete with the rest of the world. Rio however pointed out that Naga society is a nascent society in terms of religion and education. He said education and other quotas given to the backward Naga tribes call for retrospection on how to face challenges and march forward. The Lok Sabha MP said every Naga tribe is an important pillar of the ‘Naga House’ and so each pillar should be strong.
While commending the Yimchungrü youth for “progressing very fast”, Rio reminded the students that the benchmark in today’s competitive world is ‘merit.’
Advisor and negotiating team member ENPO, Toshi Wungtung, in his address said education is the manifestation of perfection or the best in a man or woman and that education is also a tool of social movement and positive changes. Exhorting the students to inculcate discipline, devotion and sincerity in the learning process, the ENPO advisor also advised the students not to depend too much on modern gadgets and to cultivate the habit of reading and writing.
