DIMAPUR, Aug 20 - The People�s Democratic Alliance (PDA) Government in Nagaland has said that Governor RN Ravi's Independence Day speech has not been received well by the people. The ruling dispensation said it has taken note of the people�s concern on the contents of Ravi�s speech wherein �negative statements� on Nagaland were made.
The PDA held a meeting at the State Banquet Hall in Kohima today and adopted a four-point resolution.
�Though Nagaland may not be the best performing state, we are making every effort to take the state forward on all developmental fronts. As representatives of the people, the PDA is compelled to voice the feelings of the people,� a joint release issued by Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) president Chingwang Konyak and State BJP president Tenjen Imna Along stated after the meeting.
In his Independence Day speech, Ravi said though Nagaland is endowed with one of the finest human and natural resources, it has unfortunately the dubious distinction of the worst-performing State in the country, including the North East region, on almost all significant indicators of human development today.
He said when the security forces and Naga armed groups agreed to suspend operations against each other paving the way for a political settlement, the legitimate expectation of the people of Nagaland was dividends of peace � freedom from fear of guns, better health, better education, better infrastructure, better livelihood opportunities, an atmosphere to dream and an ecosystem to pursue their dream.
�Incongruously, a deep entrenched network of vested interests has emerged during the period which has misappropriated the dividends of peace and did not allow them to reach the people,� Ravi said. He said there is mass scale mayhem and miscarriage of dreams and expectations of the people of Nagaland, he said.
The PDA welcomed the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Centre for taking the initiative to resume the Indo-Naga political dialogue with utmost seriousness in �our collective endeavour� for a political solution that will pave the way for peace, progress and all-round development.
The ruling alliance reiterated its support to the peace process in its role as an active facilitator to the peace talks.
The PDA appealed to the Opposition NPF Legislature Party to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the Joint Legislators Forum (JLF) on Political Issue in the greater interest of Naga society �so that we continue to set aside all differences and rise above party affiliations in order to strive towards realisation of the people�s desire which is lasting and genuine peace�.
The ruling alliance said the JLF would continue to play its role of facilitating the peace process with committed dedication. The NDPP, BJP and Independent members will continue to carry out its responsibilities as members of the JLF, it said.
It may be stated here that the NPF Legislature Party in a meeting on August 18 withdrew from the JLF, stating that the present set-up of the forum is facing ab huge trust deficit and there exists no further purpose in continuing it. According to the party, the JLF has become a mere forum without any tangible road map to the Naga political issue on its part.
