JP Narayan could feel the Naga pulse in 1964: Nitish Kumar

October 12, 2022 31 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 12

Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar recalled the contribution of Jayaprakash Narayan to peace-building in Nagaland during a turbulent phase of the Indo-Naga political conflict. The Bihar CM was in Dimapur on October 11 to attend a conference of the Bihari community in Nagaland organised by the Matri Foundation, Nagaland Bihari Samaj and Kalyan Samiti commemorating the 120th birth anniversary of Nayaran or JP, as he is popularly known, one of India’s most prominent political figures of the pre- and post-independence eras.

Also known as ‘Lok Nayak’ (people’s leader), Narayan was part of the Peace Mission to Nagaland in 1964, which included the then Assam CM, BP Chaliha and Rev Michael Scott. He went on to stay for three years in the state, a stay, which Kumar said is remembered by everyone in Nagaland. Narayan’s contribution is worth remembering, whether it was working for ushering in peace in Nagaland or fighting for India’s freedom and eventually working to take the country and the state of Bihar forward, he said. In Bihar, he said that Narayan led the famous ‘Bihar Movement’ against corruption, which also became known as the JP Movement.

According to Kumar, Narayan could feel the pulse of the Nagas back in 1964 and it was because of his effort that the first ceasefire was signed between the Government of India and Naga National Council. “It makes has happy to know that when JP (Narayan) came to Nagaland as member of a Peace Mission, he established the Peace Centre, which is still functioning,” he said.

Kumar however lamented that the Indo-Naga political issue remains unresolved. He then called upon the GoI and the Naga Political Groups to come to terms at the earliest, while extending assurance that he was willing to lend support for a permanent solution. The people of Bihar, he said, have great love for the Nagas.

He went on to highlight the achievements of the JDU government in various spheres of governance in Bihar, including education, wherein, he added that more and more girls are matriculating and at par with boys, today. While assuring his support to the Nagas in whichever way possible, he said that there should be stronger contact between Biharis and Nagas and that the latter should visit Bihar to “see for themselves what his government has done.”

‘Will follow JP till my last breath’

Patna, October 11 (IANS): Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that he will continue to follow Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan till his last breath, and will work according to his ideology and wishes to develop Bihar. “We believe in the ideology of Jayaprakash Narayan and implementing the policies which he was wishing for Bihar. We are following him to develop Bihar and it will continue till my last breath. We cannot forget him,” Kumar said, while celebrating the 120th birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan. Nitish Kumar also paid floral tributes at his statue in Patna. During the occasion, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the finance minister of Bihar, cabinet minister Sheela Mandal and Vidhan Parishad speaker Devesh Chandra Thakur also present there. After the event, Nitish Kumar went to Dimapur in Nagaland to participate in an event organized there to respect Jayaprakash Narayan.

SOource: https://morungexpress.com/jp-narayan-could-feel-the-naga-pulse-in-1964-nitish-kumar