Nagaland Governor P B Acharya underscored the need to have a strong mechanism to check influx of illegal immigrants into the State in the light of publication of the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam on July 30 last.
Acharya also called for a strong inner-line permit system in the State.
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He was addressing editors and reporters at Raj Bhavan in Kohima on Friday evening.
Noting that the existing inner-line permit system is not working out properly, the Governor said the issue of illegal immigrants has to be tackled carefully.
He also exhorted the Nagaland-based newspapers to play a ‘dominant and pivotal role’ in changing the mindset of the Naga people.
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A strong media, he said, was needed for a healthy democracy. “We are very weak in strengthening democracy. To strengthen democracy we need to have a strong media; it is the most essential part of democracy.”
According to Acharya, people have the mindset about ‘Nagaland as an insurgency infested state, which is anti-India.’
However, he stated that Nagaland had supplied 3000 ex-servicemen to various security forces in the country.
Referring to the floods and landslides in the State, Acharya said the government machinery was making all-out efforts to restore damaged infrastructure, besides providing relief and rehabilitation.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been apprised of the current situation in the State.
He was requested to extend all possible help to the State to overcome the disaster, Acharya said.
He added it was heart-warming to learn that there had been contribution towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to deal with the situation.
He appreciated the MLAs for contributing their one month’s salary towards the fund while appealing to the citizens of the State to donate generously towards the fund.
Acharya informed that he donated Rs one lakh from his salary besides arranging essential commodities for the needy people in Kiphire district.