DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (MExN): Echoing the concern of Dimapur DC, MP (Lok Sabha) Wangyuh Konyak who graced the inaugural of United Colony as the chief guest today, said although it is a significant occasion, some of the land had been illegally encroached upon, since in actual fact and record, it is Government land. Taking a bold stand, the MP asked all those present, especially the council members of the colony, to discourage such trends and do things through “proper, legal channel”, which would be beneficial to the genuine citizens of the area.
Wangyuh stressed upon the fact that it was far more beneficial to develop ones own area/village/town or district and ‘live like kings, rather then trying to live far away, where one has to either buy the land or encroach’, and in both cases being termed and looked upon as foreign aliens, thus giving birth to “xenophobia and racism”.
Citing the case of Andhra Pradesh, where due to lack of land, the AP Government purchased a large area in Nairobi, Africa, for farmers who owned no land, or had their land forfeited to money lenders. But in the case of Nagaland, it is a completely different ball game, he said.
Quoting an old Konyak adage “Land does not give birth,” the MP said Nagas have plenty of land, but are not satisfied. Thus they want more and more, even if it means encroaching on Government or village-owned property.
“The trend was to first encroach and then the first house to be built was a Church with a cross and then the Pastor’s house and so on and so on, till there are enough houses to be ‘recognized’ as a village”, the Lok Sabha MP said. This has caused enmity amongst tribes, races and even brothers, for in the process of encroachment there is bound to be a winner as well as a loser, he said. “This trend should stop” Wangyuh said.
Regarding United Colony, the MP promised that if every process is done legally and proper permission is given by the administration, he was duty bound to develop this area. Wangyuh also encouraged the families living in the colony, to be an example of unity amongst tribes, clans and race, for the colony was a mixture of different tribes and from different parts of Nagaland. “In fact,” he continued, “it would show the people from outside the state that we are integrated, united and diversified, although there are so many tribes with so many different languages in Nagaland”.
