NTC vows to oppose veneration of Gaidinliu

Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has vowed that it will never allow “Nagaland to be converted into a launching pad for such cult as Heraka or alien culture of idol worship” while reaffirming its opposition against deification of Gaidinliu in Nagaland.
NTC asked what had Gandiliu contributed to the cause of Naga movement or for Nagaland statehood? It said Gaidinliu was popular within her Rongmei community to succeed Haipou Jadonang as the new cult leader and faced challenges form conversion of her followers to Christianity, which she saw as a threat to her cult.
NTC said Gaidinliu was arrested not because she resisted invasion by British East India Company and not because of political aspiration but due to her “religious assertion”.
 Further, NTC said in memory of Gaidinliu, the government of Nagaland, with 60 MLAs had accord priority to build a memorial hall in Kohima at the cost of the state exchequer. On the other hand, it said during the 51 years of statehood, the state has not honoured any “son of the soil” of even installed a bust but was spending Rs.9 crore to build the memorial hall to honour of Gaidinliu at a cost of more than Rs.9 crore.
According to NTC if such tribute was to be accorded to any leader of Nagaland it should be a person of extra ordinary eminence, whose sacrifices for Nagas of Nagaland were unmatched.
It also claimed that there were more deserving leaders of both Naga national movement and Naga People’s Convention “whose contributions gave birth to Nagaland”.
NTC therefore concluded that there was no justification to accord such recognition of Gaidinliu over other “genuine bona fide pioneers of modern Nagaland” and that the state, by giving such recognition to “ a non indigenous person” has “done injustice to the leaders of the state”.
NTC said it was “disgusting and highly provoking” that Heraka followers were demanding a “huge size metal statute of Gaidinliu” at Dimapur airport which was sought to be renamed after her, including placing her portraits inside the Nagaland Legislative Assembly hall. It said Heraka followers were taking “unthinkable advantages now” because Nagaland government has accorded recognition to Rongemei as a tribe in Nagaland.
Vowing to oppose such, NTC also cautioned citizens of Nagaland of persecution that was psychological in nature which was being “intensively inflicted upon our faith, knowing the greed for power and fragility of our people over money”. It urged the citizens to remain united and resist temptations and over the onslaught “through prayers and action.”