"Economic aspect was completely absent from agenda of Naga movement" : says veteran S C Jamir

 

Let us follow 'Tripura model' and get Solution for Nagaland: S C Jamir

"Economic aspect was completely absent from agenda of Naga movement"

New Delhi

Veteran politician and former Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir on Friday, Sept 6, welcomed the signing of latest agreements between centre and two-Tripura based militant groups stating the same yardsticks should be applied for Nagas as well.

"Initiatives taken by Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for Tripura are welcome. Peace and development in any part of the northeast is good. But what is delaying them when it comes to Nagas and Nagaland state?," Jamir told this journalist in a telephonic conversation.

"The Naga insurgency is the oldest in the northeast and many times in the past we also saw that peace initiatives for Nagaland have had a good impact in the entire region. This time also I believe Solution to the Naga problem will have a positive outcome in the rest of the region especially Manipur," he said.

To a question, Dr Jamir said - "Our past, present and the future are inextricably linked to many facets of Naga insurgency and its evolution and distortion like extortion. More than sixty years of Naga political pilgrimage is an open book for every citizen of Nagaland and also others. Now with vast experience about the entire gamut of Naga political struggle, it will be wise to work for peace and solution at the earliest".

He also said, "The original Naga movement, when examined in depth, one is constrained to state that the people were told only one side of the coin - that is the Freedom would mean a Paradise on earth. But we have to appreciate that it is better late than never.

Therefore, I always say any political struggle should also include a struggle for economic development and the kind of economic policy that could be most appropriate for Naga people. 

This aspect was completely absent from the agenda of the Naga movement. They put the entire eggs in one basket".

"I am not finding fault. The then leadership did things according to the situation and wisdom of the time. Let the past be past, but today the Nagas have to look beyond the shibboleth and move forward in keeping with the contemporary world," Jamir said.

.

Elaborating further he said, while the final call for Solution including the timing has to come from the office of the Prime Minister; "It is important that Nagas especially in Nagaland state take a more pragmatic stance. It is becoming obvious slowly that a section of Nagas outside Nagaland state have taken us for granted. And Nagas in Nagaland are making it worse by their silence and falling prey to temporary benefits".

NAGALAND PAGE

It may be mentioned that under the agreement(s) signed on Sept 4th between the Centre and two Tripura-based militant bodies, the NLFT and the ATTF, more than 328 armed cadres will give up violence and join the mainstream of society and contribute not only in building a developed Tripura but also a developed India.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who presided over the signing in Delhi, has hailed the event as a historic moment.

"This is a matter of joy for all of us that after the struggle that was ongoing for 35 years, you have given up weapons and joined the mainstream," Shah has stated. 

ends