KOHIMA: The protracted political situation regarding the status of Nagaland could not be swept under the table, even as the mainland celebrates the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Nagaland Chief Minister and the Governor of Nagaland had to mention the impasse in their respective speeches.

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio urged all the negotiating parties involved in the Naga peace process, to “rise above differences” to reach an early solution.

During his Independence Day speech at Kohima in Nagaland,  Rio said, “I urge negotiating parties to listen to the voice of the people. Rise above the differences and hear the cry of the people for a solution.”

“The negotiating parties have worked hard and will continue to work hard till all issues are resolved,” stated Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio.

He also urged the people of the Nagaland to be patient for a solution to the vexed Naga political issue. He added: “Naga people want an early, inclusive, honourable and acceptable solution.”

“We are mindful of the unresolved issues. Our people have been waiting patiently and expectantly for a final solution to the Naga political issue,” said Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio.

 “I appeal to the Naga people to be patient and accommodative,” Rio said.

Meanwhile at Dimapur,  Nagaland and Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi  in his eve of Independence Day statement declared that Nagaland would always an inseparable part of the Indian Union.

Extending greetings to the people of Nagaland on the Independence Day eve on Sunday, Mukhi said: “In order to make a glorious Nagaland, we must prioritise developing our most precious human resource which unfortunately has suffered a relative decline in recent decades. We must eliminate illicit gangs and guns and institutionalised corruption from the state.”

 He appealed to all the Nagas not to lose hope but instead believe in their ability to achieve individual

Mukhi said in the story of India’s resurgence Nagaland cannot be left behind.

“Preserving our unique cultural identity, we must break the colonial miasma and march in step with the rest of the country in our journey of shared prosperity,” he told the Naga people.

Calling the youth of Nagaland the future of the state and the country, he said their march into the future has to keep pace with the change around and it cannot be by looking into the rear-view mirror.

“Maintaining strong emotional and cultural bonds with your custom, tradition and identity and overcoming the narcissism of minor differences, you have to race ahead keeping pace with time, technology and contemporary realities,” he added.

Noting that Nagaland is rich in natural and human resources, he said being at the gateway of South-East Asia offers the state unique geo-economic opportunities.

“We have to build robust and equitable health and education sectors to ensure healthy, skilled and well-educated citizenry. We have to build modern connectivity infrastructures – both physical and digital. We have to build a healthy ecosystem of investment and entrepreneurship,” Mukhi stressed.

  Independence Day, Naga Peace Process, Nagaland, Northeast