KOHIMA: Former Nagaland chief minister Dr SC Jamir emphasized that resolving the Indo-Naga political issue would pave the way for addressing the “Frontier Nagaland” issue.
Jamir said that peaceful solution to the Naga political issue would lead to addressing concerns of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) and other issues related to Nagaland in a peaceful and satisfactory manner.
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He cautioned against boycotting elections, closing government offices, and disrupting educational institutions, stating that such actions only harm the people of Nagaland.
Reflecting on history, Jamir highlighted that after Nagaland achieved statehood, the Eastern Region was granted the status of a regional council, a necessary step at the time.
However, he noted that Eastern Nagaland leaders voluntarily dissolved the regional council after a decade and participated in the state general elections.
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He expressed scepticism about efforts to revive similar arrangements nearly 50 years later.
Jamir urged Eastern Nagaland leaders to take pride in being part of Nagaland, which they jointly founded.
He emphasized that the ENPO issue is not purely political and suggested that Eastern communities shed the label of backwardness, focusing instead on development and utilizing local resources effectively.
Encouraging dialogue between ENPO leaders and the Nagaland government, Jamir advocated for constructive discussions to address the region’s challenges and facilitate developmental activities without external interference.
He urged ENPO not to perceive themselves as backward or mistreated, expressing confidence that the Eastern region would flourish, particularly with the advancement of the “Look East Policy”.
Jamir appealed to ENPO to cooperate with both Nagaland and central governments, demonstrating maturity in addressing domestic and state issues for the long-term benefit of the region and its people.