Dimapur, August 7 (MExN): Reacting to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s remarks on the 'Naga Headgear', which he termed as 'outlandish' and 'hilarious' at a seminar held at Thiruvananthapuram Press Club on Monday, various State political parties have censured the remark stating it as an insult to the Nagas and Naga heritage.
Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader of Nagaland, Y Patton falling in line with the other Northeast leaders has demanded apology from Tharoor, who is also Lok Sabha MP, “for insulting the people of Northeast particularly the Nagas.”
Taking strong exception over the remarks “wherein his statement ridiculed the Naga traditional headgear,” a release issued by Deputy CM’s Media Cell pointed “it was quite unbecoming for a person of his stature to make such irresponsible remark which had irrevocably hurt the sentiments of the Nagas and the Northeast in general.”
The Naga traditional headgear depicts the patriotic valour and the rich cultural heritage of the Naga forefathers, which are literally recognized as honourable assets of the Nagas and the Northeast, Patton said. “No one has the right to ridicule or make fun of any traditional and cultural heritage of the country.”
The Deputy CM demanded that Tharoor should clarify whether the remark was in his own “personal capacity or the opinion of the congress party as a whole” and tender “unconditional apology” to the people of the region in the public domain.
Meanwhile, the Naga People's Front (NPF) in a release from its Press Bureau opined that the remark has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Nagas.
The party asked the MP to take back his words “as the traditional Naga Headgear has certain values and honor attached to it.”
Further expressing anguish, it said that the party has not taken well the “ridiculous remarks” of Shashi Tharoor that tantamount to “discrediting the traditional values and practices of the Nagas which is different from the rest of the world.”
It termed the message sent across by Tharoor as “obviously communal in nature.”
While respecting the views of the Congress veteran on his stand about the PM’s reluctance to accept or wear the 'Muslim Skullcap,’ it however stated that “the 'Naga Headgear' does not represent any religion for the Nagas.” Rather, it is a symbol of respect and status accorded to an honored guest or revered persons of a certain community, it continued.
The party further called upon the Congress leader to tender apology to his comments immediately.
