By-polls a mission for Nagas: Jamir

DIMAPUR, APR 23 : Veteran Naga politician and former Governor and chief minister Dr S.C.Jamir has said that he  has been compelled to contest the by election to the 26 Aonglenden assembly constituency on May 7 in response to urges and pleas from a cross section of the Naga community.In a statement issued here, Dr. Jamir said he has chosen the by-election as a “mission in my political life to serve the people of Nagaland once again with renewed dedication and commitment”.
 Saying he has no other ambition after having attained positions and status under the constitution barring few, in his decades of service to the people, Jamir said his mission “is above party politics” . 
In an oblique reference to recent personal attacks against him, Jamir said  he has avoided issues confined within the narrow parochial domain since no useful purpose would be served by “digging outdated, outmoded and irrelevant issues”. He said numerous current issues seriously needed to be addressed  for the betterment of the people and lamented that Nagas were “standing on a shadowy borderland” and unable to decide and choose “between status quo and enlightened and progressive stance.”
Saying that as the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, manned by people’s representatives is the highest constitutional authority in the state which placed MLAs in an extraordinary obligation for the people’s well being, Jamir said he want to contribute towards making it as a “cohesive and powerful instrument” to help bring different political groups under the same umbrella as the FNR. Further he said as a permanent invitee of the Congress Working Committee, the highest policy making body of the Indian National Congress, it would be his endeavour to highlight the importance of the Naga issue directly to the CWC as the Indian leadership needed to recognize the political and historical background of the Naga political movement and its uniqueness.
On recent statement by a section of people regarding several attempts on his life, Jamir said it would be better to bury “this ugly episode once and for all”. He said since life is dear to all humans, “no one would be foolish enough to scuttle his or her life intentionally”. However, he added that since he forgave all those who made attempts on his life, it is now a closed chapter.
Dr Jamir also expressed the hope that the ensuing by poll would be “absolutely free and fair” and that the  administration in Mokokchung would ensure such an environment by taking sufficient measures to prevent interference from any quarters.