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Dimapur, November 20 (MExN): Nagaland’s higher education and tribal affair minister, Temjen Imna Along, on Saturday said that Nagaland can survive only when the 17 tribes are united. As the chief patron of Lirmen Student’s Union’s (LSU) ‘penalty shootout tournament’ which was hosted by Dimapur Lirmen Student’s Union (DLSU) at Dimapur Government College Ground, Along was also of the view that while “Nagaland has to change”, the people have to come together in order to ensure that “Nagaland aspires to be together” with the rest of the country and also the world, according to a press release.
Stating that the very meaning of life is lost when one cannot take the burden, criticism including philosophical criticisms, the minister shared that the there can be no sinister design either politically, socially and traditionally that breaks the Nagas as the “people of Nagaland” and added that one shouldn’t stand with those who tries to break the unity of the Nagas.
“In such an event which the LKM has hosted, I am happy to speak in front of not only the participating teams, but as a voice to our people that united we stand, divided we fall”, added Temjen Imna Along. At the same time, he questioned why the Nagas are living dividedly while “playing sinister politics of dividing while seeking aspirations which can never be made when being divided.”
Also supplementing that the “aspirations” can only be achieved through unity, the minister was of the opinion that though the day was not a right platform to talk about politics, politics should be an agenda to break or destroy each other but an agenda to bring development, empower people and to bring about good governance in the Naga society.
Complimenting that the people of Japukong range villages, especially Lirmen village, Along also said that it is now a time when the Nagas have to “introspect and retrospect” on how to conduct oneself for the future. While encouraging the youngsters to be “daring” not in doing wrong things in the wrong places and in wrong situations, the chief patron said that it was high time for every Naga individual to inculcate in their hearts and minds to live together unitedly.
Earlier, the tournament started with an invocation by Dimapur Lirmen Tamang Telongjem (DLTT) president, Robert Longkumer, keynote address was delivered by convener, LKM planning committee, a special number was presented by Lulu Teilia, oath taking of the participating teams was initiated by LKM sports secretary, Aochuba Longchar, while the vote of thanks was proposed by LKM general secretary, Lipokienla Longkumer. The winner of the tournament was Power Kickers and runners-up were Proper 5 while the semi-finalists were Japu Students Union and Burma Camp. The Golden Glove award went to Kevin (Power Kickers).
