Late. Shri. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Late. Smti. Indira Gandhi, Former Prime Ministers of India, had given the Nagas important positions in the Union of India and subsequently many undergrounds surrendered and partial Peace was restored. Nagaland Politics was handled by some people who did not know the people and its geography of the Nagas country.
During Pandit Nehru’s time a Member of Planning Commission was appointed (Late. Shri. P. Shilu, Former Chief Minister of Nagaland) and during Late. Smti. Indira Gandhi, UNO Representative was appointed ( Late. Shri/Dr. Hokishe Sema, Former Governor of H.P) and a Member of Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Commission was appointed ( Shri. Chiten Jamir). Late. Shri. Hokishe and his team of Delegation stayed in New York for more than one month. Whether he ( Shri. Hokishe) represented India or not he was a Naga who carried the name of Naga and who was known by the International leaders by the name of Nagas.
The appointment of Late. Shri/Dr. Hokishe for the first time as Governor of Himachal Pradesh had established the identity of the Nagas in the midst of the people of India.
In the Congress Party Shri. Chingwang Konyak, MLA and former MP was appointed as Joint Secretary in the All India Congress Committee during the time of Late. Smti. Indira Gandhi, although he declined to accept the Post. Late. Smti. Indira Gandhi advised all the Union Ministers, top Officials and Congress Party Officials to give special importance to any Naga coming to Delhi for meetings and discussions. As of today such practices are no more and the Nagas are disappointed. In contrary today many North East people are humiliated, assaulted and many North East girls are raped. Whether this is a direct challenge to the North East people or individual criminal action.
I have heard from reliable source and most important and hard core Congress man had written to the Prime Minister of India under the Caption- Nagas Representation in the Central Govt./Congress Party. Quote “Among the North Eastern States Nagaland is the only internationally troubled state that most sensitive part of our Country is creating unnecessary problems since a long time. Unfortunately the present Nagaland Govt. is a Regional Party which does not represent the national character and always support the causes of the NSCN and changing sides as per the Party in power at the centre. Since Late. Pandit Nehru era, Union Govt. and Congress Party have been using Nagas Representative as Country’s pride but it is surprising to know that in present UPA Govt. or in Congress Party, Nagaland representative does not find a place. The situation deserved to be looked into” (Unquote).
Peace talk is continuing for such a long time without any head and tail. Therefore, the Naga people in the North East are getting tired. The kind of action has given opportunity to the people to think and find out alternative for their survival.
Nagas undergrounds or insurgents though they have been fighting with the Indian Arm Forces, from the beginning, they never created problems for India during the Chinese Aggression in 1962 and Bangladesh War of Independence in 1972 and intermittent conflicts between India and Pakistan. Naga insurgents have not supported any other Country except India. These are the few examples out of many good deeds committed by the Nagas towards India.
Unlike Assam and Manipur, Nagas have not created trouble or problems to the Govt. of India in the North East, I hope and pray that the Govt. of India will change its attitude and give importance to the Nagas for lasting political solution with all round infrastructural development in all the Nagas inhabited areas.
T.A. NGULLIE
Ex Minister & Adviser to UNDSP, Nagaland
Chumukedima, Dimapur
