Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 22
Outgoing Nagaland State Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today in his final address as CM, stated that the decision to step down was taken “for the sake of peace and harmony in our society, and for the love of our party and our government.” “Rather than sit in the chair of power, and watch helplessly our youths being misled and used for political ends; rather than watch the erosion of the filial sentiments of our society; I preferred to quit the highest office in the State,” he stated, while speaking at the farewell programme at the state banquet hall, after Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu was sworn in as CM.
While congratulating the new CM and his cabinet colleagues, he called for healing through dialogue and negotiations, while warning against allowing “mobs, or hurriedly formed adhoc bodies to start dictating, or obstructing the government’s function.”
‘Fair name of Nagaland damaged’
He expressed regret that the “fair name of Nagaland” has been “damaged by the recent developments,” and called for efforts to repair the damage. Zeliang appealed to the people of Nagaland: “If such a demand is to be made on someone in high office to step down on moral ground, the means we use should be equally fair and the ends morally justifiable.”
He meanwhile maintained that holding of elections to the ULBs with 33% reservation for women is a Constitutional mandate which all states under the Indian Union must oblige. He reiterated that the government’s decision to go ahead with the polls was to pre-empt the SC giving a verdict, “which could jeopardize the protection of the customary and traditional practices of the Naga people as guaranteed under Article 371-A.”
Zeliang claimed that “even the agitators acknowledged that they understood the compelling circumstances before the Government...” He however lamented that “elements opposed to my continuance as the Chief Minister hijacked the agitation, and the movement took an ugly turn with political intention written large on the wall.” He further rued that the death of three persons in the Dimapur violence was “used in the most gruesome manner for political ends…”
Zeliang added that the decision to not call for central forces to step in was taken in order to prevent more casualties. Zeliang, who is also Chairman of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Coordination Committee, assured that he would continue to give his best to ensure that the Naga political issue is brought to an early and logical conclusion. “I am touched by the overwhelming support, love and co-operation extended to me by all of you in all these two years and 9 months that I have been in office. And I am indebted to each and every one of you,” he told the party leaders and workers.
He further asked all elected members and party functionaries that the Vision 2030 document, brought out by his government, should be taken forward and turned into a reality. Zeliang meanwhile appreciated that the statewide bandh has been called off and that normalcy has returned to the state, particularly in Dimapur and Kohima.
