Pranab in Kohima, NNC welcomes
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, May 14 2013:
President of India Pranab Mukherjee arrived in the Nagaland capital Kohima this afternoon.
Soon after he arrived, Pranab Mukherjee paid a visit to the Second World War Cemetry and laid a wreath.
Meanwhile, in his honour, a cultural programme was organised at Raj Bhavan, Kohima.
He will hold the night at the Raj Bhavan and would address the convocation of Nagaland University at Lumami in Zunheboto district on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Naga National Council/Federal Government of Nagaland (NNC/FGN) in an open letter to President Pranab Mukherjee said, "Had the Indo-Naga Conflict been resolved and peace had dawned in our war torn country, it would have been a pleasure on our part to receive you as our honoured guest in your coming to our country-Nagaland" .
The letter signed by NNC/FGN vice president I Temjenba Longkumer said, "But sadly, time and again, our government had been compelled to remind India that the longest conflict in modern history still remains unresolved due to India's apathy and even denial of irrefutable political facts of South Asian history" .
The FGN then pointed out that it is a fact now known by the whole world that despite the declaration of our Naga independence on 14th August, 1947, your country invaded our lands in the early 1950s and claimed our country as part of India.
It is also a fact that a protracted war was going on between our two countries until a Ceasefire Agreement between our two governments was signed in 1964."On our part, we are still holding our commitment to this Ceasefire and are awaiting your government to resolve the conflict through peaceful means instead of resorting to violence and war again," Longkumer added.
"On this occasion of your un-invited arrival to our country, the Federal Government of Nagaland once again wishes to bring to your notice, the following facts of our histories as two distinct sovereign neighbouring countries that, Indo-Naga history began when a Naga delegation led by the father of the Naga nation, A.Z.Phizo and the father of the Indian nation Mahatma Gandhi met at his Bhangi Colony in Delhi on July 19, 1947.Gandhi said to the Naga delegation in their discussion that, "If you say that you are not Indians and your country does not belong to India the matter ends there.
Nobody will force you to join the Indian Union" .
" Mr.Jawaharlal Nehru described the status of Nagaland on August 19, 1946, in connection with the proposed British Colony of Couplan Plan, as, 'The Tribal Areas are defined as being those long frontiers of India which are neither part of India nor Burma, nor of Indian States nor of any foreign powers,'" the FGN leader stated.
According to Longkumer, on November 28, 1949 Mr..CRajagopalachari, Indian Governor-General, on his visit to Shillong told a Naga delegation that, "the Nagas have every right to be Independent outside the Indian Union" .
The British official record (Aitcheson Treaties, Engagements and Sanads Vol.
XII, pp.
91, 1931) made it very clear that, "the Nagas had no Treaty with Great Britain," he claimed.
"In the light of the above facts of our histories, India is once again reminded through you to reconcile with the truth and reality of Nagaland and cease from creating further subversive activities in Nagaland.
Such an act on the part of your government will save India's image as an internationally progressive nation.
"It is sincerely hoped that India will take positive steps in the right direction sooner than latter," the FGN vice president said.
Comment
