Nagaland governor RN Ravi today said the Government of India is absolutely clear that there is and there shall be only one national flag and Constitution in India.
“Anyone talking anything contrary is peddling preposterous lies. They are trying to confuse and mislead the people,” Ravi said.
Greeting the people of the State on the eve of 58th Statehood Day of Nagaland, Ravi said, “We stand at the crossroads of history. The right decision taken today will determine our future and the destiny of our coming generations.”
“The Government of India has never ever talked, much less negotiated with anyone on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. Any misadventure to disintegrate this great nation shall not be tolerated,” he said.
With common understanding having been reached on all the issues across the table and conclusion of Naga peace talks on October 31, 2019, the people of Nagaland are anxiously waiting for the new dawn, he said.
The NSCN (I-M) which is holding talks with the Centre for the last 23 years is insisting on separate Naga flag and constitution to arrive at a final solution to the Indo-Naga issue.
Ravi, however, noted that there are some people who are standing as a roadblock to the aspirations of the people of Nagaland. He urged “these people” to see the writings on the wall, come out of their make-believe echo-chamber and listen to the voice of the people and respect their wishes in a true democratic spirit.
He said Nagaland is an abiding testimony to the triumph of the politics of peace over the politics of bloodshed. It is a proud saga of the indomitable Naga spirit which rejected the politics of gun and gun powder in favour of politics of democracy and dialogue, he stated.
Asserting that the Naga political issue belongs to the Naga people, Ravi said no single entity should claim the sole franchise over it. He said the traditional village institutions and the tribal bodies are the primary stakeholders in the Naga political issue.
According to him, their freely expressed wishes and decisions are paramount in any settlement.
Stating that they have clearly expressed their mind, Ravi said they demand conclusion of the endless peace process without any further delay.
He said they want end of the gun-culture and want the rule of law and justice and an environment for flourishing of the genius of the people. Ravi stressed that every other entity should respect them and their wishes.
“Being disrespectful to the primary stakeholders is an insult to the people of Nagaland,” he stated. He cautioned that any attempt to intimidate or threaten them will invite the wrath of the people and full might of the laws of the land.
“As we prepare to embark on a new journey, this Statehood Day, let us commit ourselves to building the Nagaland of the dreams of its founding fathers – a Nagaland where the free spirit of the people will blossom to the fullest,” Ravi appealed.
He paid heartfelt tribute to the founding fathers of Nagaland – the leaders of the Naga Peoples’ Convention, martyrs and countless Nagas – whose blood, toil, sweat and sacrifices led to the birth of the 16th state of the Union of India.