Jamir critical of church role

DIMAPUR, March 24 ? Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir has criticized the role of the churches in Nagaland for having blurred the ?truth?. He said if Nagas were to live as brothers and sisters of one family, it was high time the church leaders, political leaders and village elders have to imbibe the spirit of cordiality and forgiveness. Jamir was addressing a gathering of students and residents of Thahekhu, a Sumi Naga village established in 1951, near here while inaugurating the newly constructed building of the Government Middle School. ?Nagas should be clear about what kind of Nagaland they want to have and what kind of legacy they want to leave behind?. ?We are today standing in a shadowy borderline between dreams and reality. We are at crossroads whether to choose dreams or reality, light or darkness, peace or violence, progress or backwardness, the Chief Minister said.

Jamir questioned, ?Who is there to prevent us from getting united, create harmony and goodwill in the Naga society,? he expressed confidence that no individual or group can engineer disturbance in the Naga society if it has to prosper and progress keeping pace with the rest of the world,? The options before the Nagas were open, he said. His visions was for transforming Nagaland, which has uniqueness, distinct identity, custom, culture, way of life and a classless society, a feature non-existent in any part of the country and world, he added. He said, in this direction teachers have a great responsibility in giving shape to the society by way of changing the mindset, thinking and vision of the students. ?Students are much more intelligent than the elders? he maintained. ?If we are worthy children of Christ we are supposed to love one another and respect one another,? but today it is opposite, Nagas are killing Nagas, Nagas are chasing Nagas which is very disheartening, he added that Nagas must have goodwill, love, compassion for each other in order to live in the family of God. ?Let the feeling that we are brothers and sisters be instilled in every Naga,? he maintained.