Guwahati, April 6: Nagaland chief minister Shürhozelie Liezietsu today hailed the "bold step" taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the Naga political problem but called for "oneness" of the Naga people for a lasting solution.
Addressing a civic reception at Ungma village, his first after taking over as the chief minister in February, Liezietsu said to arrive at a lasting solution to the problem, Nagas need to be united and speak up in one voice and one mind to enable the Centre to understand and appreciate the opinion and stand of the Naga people, pushing forward his efforts for an "inclusive" peace deal.
Last week, at a meeting of leaders of the ruling NPF in Kohima, the 81-year-old chief minister said though his party and government support the August 3, 2015, framework agreement between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M), it does not mean that the party and state government support a single faction of the Naga underground.
He said it would be the endeavour of his party and government to approach all groups to come together and be part of the process to bring a permanent and acceptable solution.
Liezietsu, who had replaced T.R. Zeliang after a month of statewide unrest sparked by the holding of the urban local body polls with 33 per cent reservation for women, today took the government and the party's stand forward at the well-attended Ungma village.
Ungma is also the native village of former chief minister and current Odisha governor S.C. Jamir, who is said to be once again in the race for the Vice-President's post. He was in Mon on Tuesday.
Calling for "oneness" of the Nagas, Liezietsu said, "Any political problem needs a humane approach for resolution and the Naga problem, though political in nature, is very much a human problem as well and as such needs a humane approach to bring about a lasting and acceptable solution."
Liezietsu also said unity and determination to solve the problem and not to bequeath it to future generations should be a priority for the Nagas, especially so when the Centre has taken what he called a "bold step" under Modi to solve the problem once and for all.
