Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio seen here at the silver jubilee celebrations of the apex Naga mothers’ organization, the Naga Mothers’ Asociation, in Kohima, Saturday.
Kohima | February 16 : Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said the Naga people should be broadminded and accommodative to live as one family Speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Naga Mothers’ Association here, the chief minister said ‘we talk much about undergrounds to unite’ but the “overgrounds” are not united either. He said the mainstream peoples and society have to unite first. He said all the tribes should unite and know that “we are one family.”
Rio strongly believed that the NMA would play an important role in uniting the Nagas. He complimented the mothers that through their slogan “Shed no more blood”, relatively the situation ‘is now better and there is less bloodshed in the society’. Stating that jubilees are a time for introspection and retrospection, Rio urged the NMA not to rest on their laurels but to pursue further as “life is a continuous process.” Rio challenged the mothers to render greater efforts in propagating the message of maintaining cleanliness and civic sense as well.
He further claimed that ‘Nagaland has been declared as the safest state in the country as far as rape cases are concerned’. On this, he lauded the mothers for raising a united voice against sexual crimes in the state.
Expressing personal opinion on the women reservation bill, Rio said he will be the ‘happiest man’ if the reservation was to be implemented. He, however, said the state cannot decide on its own, but it is the “country” that has to.
‘We have to struggle for some more time and we can have further discussion. My government will not be biased to anybody’ he assured while adding that men and women are equal. “Together, we can build a strong and vibrant society”, he said.
Also, speaking at the jubilee, NMA president Khesheli Chishi said the NMA has been strenuously working for the welfare of Naga women in particular and the Naga people as a whole, since the organization’s inception.
“It is a concern for every sensible mother that their children walk in the right path and become an asset for the society rather than becoming a liability.
Keeping these thoughts in mind, the NMA has been taking up and pursuing various programmes and projects for the benefit of the upcoming generations,” said, adding that such one such programme which the NMA has initiated is establishing the HIV/AIDS Community Care centre at Kohima to give care and support to the need people”.
Also expressing concern on another important issue which the NMA is seriously concerned about, the unresolved Naga issue, the NMA called upon all leaders to come to an understanding and strive cohesively to bring about a durable and honorable solution to the long-drawn conflict.
Representatives from the Naga Hoho, NSF, NPMHR and the Forum for Naga Reconciliation delivered messages if solidarity during the celebrations. Minister for PHE Dr. Nganshi Ao, minister for Road & Bridges G. Kaito Aye, minister for Agriculture Dr. Chumben Murry and MLA Dr. Nicky Kire along with others were also in attendance.