HT Correspondent
DIMAPUR, Jan 11: Nagaland’s acting chief minister Y Patton on Saturday said the Government of India is amply clear about one nation one constitution and one nation one flag.
Pattion, the deputy chief minister, was given the charge of chief minister on January 8 during the leave period of chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
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Without naming the NSCN-IM which has been demanding separate Naga flag and constitution for resolution of the decades-old Naga issue, Patton said the Centre has consented to a cultural flag for the Nagas and Yehzabo, the Naga constitution, which will be incorporated into the Indian Constitution.
He was addressing the 75th anniversary celebration of Duncan Bosti Dimapur as the special guest at the multi-purpose hall of Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo, Duncan Bosti.
Noting that there are 28 Naga underground factions in Nagaland, Patton said it is like one family making one faction.
He added that of the 28 groups, only five are under ceasefire agreement.
He said while there are some genuine groups who want solution to the Naga issue, some other factions do not want it as they will have no place to go after a solution is arrived at.
“They want to extort our money and live,” he said.
Raising serious concern over multiple taxation imposed by various Naga groups, he said: “We must rise up together. There should be only one tax.”
Patton appealed to all the 28 underground factions to come together for solution like all the 60 MLAs from different parties in the state who formed an opposition-less government for the same purpose.
“If they really want to resolve the Naga issue, they must come together,” he stressed.
Patton also urged the Naga civil society organisations to unite to work for the future generation.
Duncan Bosti was named after SJ Duncan, who served as the deputy commissioner of the erstwhile Naga Hills district in the 1950s.
Dr RH Duncan Lyngdoh, grandson of SJ Duncan, who is a retired professor of North eastern Hill University, and Nagaland adviser to I&PR and soil and water conservation Imkong L Imchen attended the programme as the guests of honour.
