Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, leader of Opposition TR Zeliang and several other leaders have congratulated R.N. Ravi on taking over the charge of the governor of the state.
They expressed high hope that with his taking over the governorship, the decade-old Naga political issue will be resolved.
Ravi, who has also been the interlocutor of Naga peace talks since August 2014, took over as Nagaland governor on Thursday.
Rio, addressing the reception programme organised in honour of the new governor at the State Banquet Hall in Kohima on Thursday night, said Ravi’s polished, humble and compassionate nature and approach have won over the trust and confidence of all sections of the people.
He said Ravi’s governorship is looked forward to with much expectations and immense pleasure.
Rio reiterated that the Indo-Naga peace process is at the top of the People’s Democratic Alliance government and that it was committed to playing the role of an active facilitator in the Naga talks.
“We hope your coming to Nagaland will pave the way for the breakthrough that we all have been hoping in ensuring a final solution to the Naga issue,” Rio said.
“We look forward to you becoming the driving force of not just the Naga peace process but to your leadership in all aspects of delivering good governance to our state whereby each citizen is able to contribute towards nation-building process,” he added.
Zeliang said Nagaland was fortunate to have a governor in the person of Ravi whose name and identity have become synonymous with the Indo-Naga political issue.
“It was only after 80 rounds of peace talks spanning several years that the framework agreement was signed with Ravi as interlocutor. It is without doubt that his role and contribution towards the Indo-Naga political solution leading to the signing of the framework agreement between the government of India and the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015, which is now joined seven Naga national political groups, will go down the annals of history as a landmark achievement,” Zeliang said.
He was optimistic that Ravi coming in as governor would facilitate and speed up the process of negotiation.
Lone Lok Sabha MP of the state, Tokheho Yepthomi, has expressed optimism that the long overdue Naga political issue will soon be settled with Ravi at the helm of the Indo-Naga political negotiations.
“With our honorable Governor now at the helm of the Indo-Naga political negotiations, we are hopeful that the long overdue political issues will soon be settled,” the MP said in a press release on Friday.
Congratulating Ravi, Yepthomi said the people of Nagaland are very fortunate that for the first time in the decades-old political negotiations the state governor will also be the Interlocutor for Naga political negotiations.
The Nagaland unit of NPP hoped that his expertise and experience with the Central government and Nagaland, Ravi will be able to work for the larger interest of the state and its people.
UNTABA, in a release on Friday, acknowledged and appreciated the Center for appointing Ravi as Nagaland governor.
The association said Ravi has learnt the intricacies of the Indo-Naga political imbroglio as the interlocutor. It added his assuming office as the governor should never be an obstacle in bringing about a logical conclusion to Indo-Naga peace talks at the earliest.