DIMAPUR, May 9 - Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday said the Indo-Naga political conflict has created challenges and hurdles for generations in realising their ambitions and made the Naga people suffer for too long.
He said the resolution of the Indo-Naga political conflict is at the top of the People�s Democratic Alliance government�s agenda.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 28th general conference of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) at Bhandari town in Wokha district, Rio said the State government has taken significant steps in playing the role of an active facilitator in the ongoing peace process so that unity and reconciliation and a final honourable, inclusive and acceptable settlement comes at the earliest.
He also said the Nagaland Assembly unanimously passed a resolution recognising the sacrifices and sufferings of the Naga �nationalists� and their families. He stressed that unity amongst all sections, both overground and the �national organisations�, is the need of the hour.
�Nagas are at a crucial juncture in our history, unless we live in peace and arrive at the political solution our future may not be bright,� said the CM, adding, �we should not only support the peace process but we have to make sacrifices by rising above individualism, clanism, tribalism and instead uphold Nagaism,� he added.
Rio expressed dismay that the Nagas are unable to find the way forward in a unified manner in the civil society movement on the issue of peace and political solution to the Naga issue. The tribal hohos, women and tribal organisations do not have a unified platform to carry the Naga voice in a manner that transcends tribes, districts, States and countries, he observed.
Rio lauded the arrangements made for the conference and called upon the student community to remember and honour all the pioneers who made untold sacrifices to enable the present generation to carry on the mantle with vision and commitment to continue to inspire the future generation.
He said the NSF being the apex body of the student community has made significant contributions to the Naga society in multiple aspects and greatly contributed towards the unification of the Naga people beyond man-made boundaries.
Reminding that the youths and the student fraternity are the backbone and foundation of all societies in today�s world, he said there is nothing that should not be out of reach for any individual. The only merit should be the determining factor for a person to succeed, he added.
Rio exhorted the students to have the right skills and attitude, along with education, to be able to find jobs, be it in private or government sectors or for self-employment.
