File Photo.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 27
Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that the Naga political issue will continue to be at the top agenda of the government.
“As we have declared in our respective manifestoes, we will continue to play the role of active facilitators and make every possible effort to contribute in taking the political dialogue in the desired direction, Rio said in his Budget Speech in the first session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly here today.
Rio said that all sections of the Naga people desire a political solution that is honourable, acceptable, and inclusive at the earliest.
Generations of Nagas have faced consequences due to the political conflict and the unresolved imbroglio. Every Naga family has contributed to the Naga people's quest for genuine peace over generations. Every Naga citizen, across all our inhabited lands, is a direct stakeholder in the Naga journey, Rio said.
“We welcome the positive initiatives and achievements that have been made in the recent past by the negotiating parties and the various Naga groups who are making genuine efforts towards unity and understanding,” he said adding that in the past two and half decades of ceasefire and dialogue, there have been significant achievements and milestones.
The recognition of our unique history, culture and identity and our issue as political and the signing of the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position are just some of the landmarks which the ongoing dialogue has been successful in achieving, he said.
“Having said that, the time is more than appropriate for all sections of Nagas come together under an umbrella of understanding and oneness so that we collectively work towards realization of an early solution,” the Chief Minister said and called upon all sections of Naga society to make efforts towards unity of the Naga family, “for it is only through unity that we will be able to achieve genuine peace.”
We welcome the Joint Statement made on 18th October, 2022 at Kolkata, and the signing of the ‘Nagas are moving ahead’ at the Meeting at Chümoukedima on 14 January, 2023, Rio added.
