Dimapur, May 11 (MExN): Rajya Sabha MP from Nagaland, TR Zelaing said that Nagaland is a great land because of its natural resources and so called upon the students that they should not allow any kind of efforts or system to take away the basic right of the land.
Speaking at the valedictory programme of the 22nd NSF General Conference at Afusu, Punanamei today, Zeliang said that times and faces have changed, but the commitments and principles have never changed. He said that the NSF today stands as a visible living embodiment of Naga aspiration, integrity and its respectfulness and added that the leadership quality that NSF has produced is unchallengeable.
Projecting the NSF as the founding fathers of the ‘future Naga History’ and destiny to look beyond what we are today, Zeliang called for avowing a systematic change to empower the Naga people.
In this regard, Zeliang said that unlike any other state, Nagaland is the only state with special provision under Article 371 (A) with protection and immunity from the Central laws and legislations.
‘No act of the Parliament of India can be enforced in this state” he said and added that the Nagas are governed by their customary practices and laws.
“Nagas has their right over their land. Therefore I call upon the NSF to look into every sensitive issue in order to uphold the right of the Nagas” he said.
Expressing his hope on the NSF, Zeliang said that the NSF fearlessly took active campaigns and restored the lands to the Naga people where it was undermined for exploitation. “Our land is great because of its natural resources” he said and added that they should not allow any kind of efforts or system to take away the basic right of our land.
Airing out his views on the different Naga tribes living under different states in the northeast, Zeliang said, “Fortunately or unfortunately Nagas are spread over four States in our Northeastern region. Except for Nagaland other Nagas have been subjected to different policies of the controlling Government.”
He said that the Nagas in the other states are forced to accept the history of other people as their history which challenges and threatens their history, identity and culture.
“Their land and natural resources exploited,” he said and added that the state properties declared and protected under certain laws needs to be upheld by its citizens as no country or state can progress in peace without proper implementation of law. He said that the law of a country is above any community, person no matter how strong and powerful it may be.
“The disrespect for common property or Government property is not a healthy sign of a civilized society, particularly for the Naga people who are in the midst of the movement to consolidate its length and people” he said.
Further, Zeliang said that, besides political problem the present generation particularly youth has to face many other challenges; to fight against diseases, global warming, social evils and education with value system and to overcome all these problems and so called for the need to create a knowledge platform otherwise the youth will only be onlookers in this world of fast development, globalization and privatization.
Zeliang said that the Nagas need a new vision and a guiding principle to keep our policy makers and the elected governments at its place to work as per the Naga aspirations. Dreams that are converted into visions and visions transformed into action, create the reality in which the people prosper and progress.
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