New Delhi: Following is the text of Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh’s address at the 53rd Annual Meet of the Naga Students’ Union Delhi here today:
“I am delighted to be with you on this 53rd annual event of the Naga Students Union Delhi. The NSUD is one of the oldest students’ organisations in the country. It is doing a great service to the people, especially the Naga students and more so the freshers coming to Delhi for higher studies.
You provide them the care of a family away from Home. Coming from far and remote places of the country to live in a big city like Delhi can be challenging.
You assist them in admissions, career counseling and help them navigate the day-to-day challenges of living in a big city. You also give them the warmth of cultural kinship. With you here, their parents back home are re-assured.
Through your efforts, other countrymen get to know about the rich and vibrant Naga culture. You are a glorious example of community support to your people. You have my highest appreciation.
Until a few decades back, the number of Naga Students in Delhi was thin. I am glad to know that today you are over thirty thousand strong. Your presence enriches the intellectual and cultural fabric of our national capital. It is indeed heartening to see Nagas excelling in all walks of life.
I am a great admirer of the Naga people, their braveries, their strong sense of pride in themselves and their unique culture.
Many of the problems that the North-East region faces today is rooted in the legacy of the colonial rule. The British rulers, for their commercial and political interests, created a divide between the hill and the plains people. They occupied all the lands along the foothills that connected the two people for their tea, oil and coal industries. They broke the several thousand years of civilizational continuum of co-existence. They also created emotional distance between the two by fabricating and giving currency to mischievous myths about each others.
It is indeed unfortunate that after Independence, for long, we did not adequately appreciate and remember the countless Naga Freedom Fighters like Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu who gave their lives and freedom fighting the British.
Naga freedom fighters, veteran parliamentarians, outstanding administrators and intellectuals have made and are making remarkable contributions to building a modern India.
My dear friends, this city is yours. And it is the duty of the Government to help you feel the ownership.
In order to make you and other friends from the North-East feel safe and secure in Delhi, I have created a Special Cell in Delhi Police headed by a Joint Police Commissioner from the North-East to address your day-to-day security concerns.
I have a Minister from North-East in the Home Ministry, Shri Kiren Rijiju ji, who can understand your problems and relate with you better.
We are making Delhi Police more and more sensitive to security needs of our friends from the North-East. Delhi Police has recruited over 450 smart young boys and girls from North-East in the last one year. We want to further increase the number. In the current recruitment drive of Delhi Police, over six thousand young women and over twenty eight thousand young men from North-East have applied. I wish them all the best.
If you have any suggestions that may strengthen your sense of security, feel free to bring it to my notice. I will do my best.
The Government of India is committed to ensure that the Naga people have their rightful honour, dignity and pride of place. I know that India cannot be happy if our Naga brothers and sisters are unhappy. India cannot be great unless our Naga brothers and sisters share this sense of greatness.
The initiative to resolve the Naga issue, for once and all, to the greatest satisfaction of Naga people has made good progress in the last two years. We are confident that the enduring peace in Naga areas is not far away.
My dear young friends, you are the future of this country. I can see among you future scientists, doctors, engineers, administrators, political leaders the builders of India. I wish you the very best in your life and career. I also once again congratulate the Naga Students’ Union Delhi for their yeoman service to the nation.”
