Kohima, Jul 20 (NEPS): Nagaland Minister for Planning & Coordination and Urban Development, Dr Shurhozelie reminded that it is time for the people to speak the “hard truth” and referring to the factional feud, said that the factions should be convinced the people if violence between the groups would bring the Nagas Sovereignty.
Talking to NEPS here at his official residence on Thursday, the Minister reminded the people that it is time to speak the “hard truth” and that if they believed to gain sovereignty by fighting amongst them, “let them convince us.” “They should not fool the Naga people and also themselves by such acts,” he asserted.
He also reiterated DAN Government’s declared policy of creating a congenial atmosphere for the peace process. The Minister said as State Government, their responsibility was to create a congenial atmosphere for the peace process. “And when we talk of the peace process, we mean it covers all sections of the people,” he said. “Therefore, all sections of the people should make the best use of such environment.”
Asked as to how far such policy was realistic when the NSCN (K) was accusing the leaderships of the DAN Government of having nexus with the NSCN (IM), Dr Shurhozelie refused to subscribe to the point. He, however, pointed out that “some members amongst the NSCN (K) group always write against us.” “It is for the people to judge,” he stated.
He also said the law and order situation in the State had considerably improved and was well-controlled. But he refused to call the factional fights in the State as “law and order issue.” “The underground factions go out to do anything they like and speak anything they like,” he said. “So, what can we do, when they start fighting?”
He said all the NGOs, civil societies and individuals made numerous appeals to them to stop fighting but clashes continued. “The more appeals, the more fights amongst them,” he further questioned the intentions behind it. “Do they believe to gain sovereignty by fighting amongst themselves,” the veteran regionalist and president of the major ruling NPF party asked and said, “If all the cadres of the NSCN (K) go out of Nagaland and allow the NSCN (IM) cadres to occupy the state, do you mean to say a sovereignty to the Nagas or all the NSCN (IM) cadres go to the present State of Manipur and allow the NSCN (K) cadres to occupy the whole of Nagaland State, do you mean to say sovereignty to Nagas.”
He also reaffirmed DAN Government’s commitment that in the event of any final political settlement to the Naga political issue was arrived at; it would not stand on the way. “We will continue to hold this commitment till the final settlement comes,” he said.
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