
Today, some few thousands of our people mainly students, from the NE states are being targeted in different parts of India allegedly by muslims, as a consequence of the happenings in Bodo areas in Assam.
Our hearts got out to those students who must be having a difficult time, and for many, their academic careers could be adversely jeopardized. However, I would to state that it’s a few hundred or a few thousand that is sacrificing today. But this is not too big a sacrifice. Because if the present unabated influx of illegal immigrants continue, it will be the indigenous millions in their own homelands of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal and Meghalaya, who will loss their everything as in the case of Tripura and Sikkim. In such an eventuality, the few students and professionals who are now outside the NE Region and facing the exodus also cannot escape in any case. What good is the degree from the best college or university in India if you loss your identity as a people? What use if your earning high income or professional progression in India if your people perish?
In Mokokchung we have pushed out the illegal immigrants and contrary to the popular notion of “how can we survive without their cheap labour?”, the town has become a much better place to live in. Its economic activity and progress has also increased tremendously, as local people has started to learn the trade of business and the dignity of labour.
Now with hundreds of our students returning to Nagaland from Pune, Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad and other parts of India, what kind of strategy we ought to make? First, we can make Nagaland a better place for quality education, where our students returning can continue their education without interruption or loss of academic year. The State Government ought to help the schools and colleges to absorb these additional students in Nagaland. Secondly, the government can also find avenues where our students can go abroad for higher education instead of to Indian cities. Thirdly, we should all join our hands to improve the governance of the state and its economic development, so that we may all find our opportunities for growth.
Remember, American citizens are targeted almost everywhere in the world by certain religious groups, but does that stop them from doing what they need to do? God forbid. Instead, it just strengthens their resolve to do what is the right thing to do.
Therefore, now that the issue is being forced upon us, the issue of illegal immigrants must be settled and brought to a logical conclusion at any cost – and now. The government instead of taking a proactive action, is instead, trying to please and protect the illegal immigrants. The recent statement of the Chief Secretary against the public awareness campaign initiated by the PAC of Naga Council Dimapur, is not only insensitive, callous and uncalled for, but also arrogant. The best way to reply to his provocative statement is to submit not the 1,00,000 signatures, but 2,00,000 signatures and implement the Pledge!
Way to go PAC, Naga Council. Kuknalim!
M T AIer
Mokokchung