Al Ngullie
August 1
DIMAPUR: The Naga Hoho was assured by Indian National Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, of ‘positive development and sincere participation’ from the Centre in the ongoing parleys to resolve the long-drawn out Naga political problem, according to a Naga Hoho official.
The Vice-president of the Naga Hoho Keviletuo Kiewhuo, in a telephonic interaction with this reporter, said that Sonia Gandhi had expressed her optimism that the Naga Political issue would bear ‘positive developments’ and assured her fullest ‘participation.’
Meanwhile, the Naga Hoho has expressed support to the decision of the All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) rejection of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s offer for talks because of the reason that the Chief Minister had not consented to participate in the proposed Cabinet ministerial delegation. “It was only fair that the ANSAM had rejected the offer because since the issue involved is of paramount nature the Chief Minister of Manipur himself should be a part of it” said one Hoho official.
“The ANSAM’s current non-cooperative movement demanding the revocation of June 18 as Manipur State Integrity day is based on the larger aspiration of the Nagas to live as one people. Our people are behind them”, said Kiewhuo. Responding to a query that observers had begun questioning if the ongoing economic blockade had started to tax the people living in the State of Manipur, Nagas, Meiteis or any other community, the leader said that there are bound to be certain sacrifices in any kind of peoples’ movement. “Suffering and sacrifices are characteristic of struggle for higher goals” he said. He further asserted that the Naga people would rise above the conflict.
Officials of the Naga Hoho were also unanimous in their voice that even if the Manipur chief Minister keeps on rushing to and fro between Delhi and Imphal it would not be of any use since it is not the Indian government or State Chief Ministers who would decide the destiny of the Nagas.
