Violence cannot be instrument for solution: Datta
Source: Oken Jeet Sandham(NEPS)

Kohima, January 26: The Governor of Nagaland Shyamal Datta, who is completing his tenure as Governor of Nagaland in next few days, expressed the people's hope and desire on the ongoing dialogue that it would result in an "honorable settlement, acceptable to the people".

Addressing the 57th Republic Day Celebration here at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Ground on Friday, the Governor said he was giving his last greetings to the people of Nagaland as the Governor of Nagaland, on an occasion like this.

He said during his stint as Governor in the last five years in Nagaland, he had witnessed many positive political developments that took place between the people of Nagaland and the Government of India.

(Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta, 2nd right, dancing with Khianmungan dancers during the 57th Indian Republic Day Celebration at Secretariat Ground on January 26, 2007.This is his last greeting to the people of Nagaland as Governor as his tenure as Governor of the State is over in the next few days.

State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio (2nd left) also seen dancing with the troupe.

Pix by NEPS )

"During these years, the Government of India and the Naga people have been trying to resolve the long standing Naga political problem in a democratic manner, based on the principles that are enshrined in the Constitution of India", he explained.

"It is the heartfelt hope of the people of Nagaland that the ongoing dialogue will result in an honorable settlement, acceptable to the people".

Stating that the Constitution of India was vast enough to provide immense scope within its democratic principles to accommodate the hopes and aspirations of any section of people, Datta however strongly believed that the violence could never be a an "instrument to solve any problem whether it is the Naga political problem or the differences among the Naga brothers along factional or tribal lines".

Much progress has been made in the negotiation process and it was imperative that the "peaceful path is traveled enough to find solutions to our problem", he added.

While acknowledging that the 10-year old peace process paid dividends as evident from various quarters on the State, the Governor said he was pained to note the "divisiveness that still festers along tribal and factional lines with an adverse impact on the law and order situation in the State".

"It is a matter of deep concern for all of us", he said.

He however strongly felt that the "inherent strengths of the Naga culture and community spirit need to be revived" to solve the problems that confronted them.

He further said the State Government was committed to further "strengthening the community spirit" in the State by way of empowering the Tribal and various public organizations, by invoking the Clause 8 of the Sixteen-Point Agreement.

"This will be a move in the right direction", he added, saying, "We need to be guided more by our wisdom of time-tested culture, tradition and the community spirit".