KOHIMA, Aug 25 (NEPS): Former Nagaland Assembly Speaker Z Lohe lambasted the TR Zeliang Government for relentlessly pursuing for setting up of \u201cRani Gaidinliu Memorial Museum or Statue\u201d here at the State capital, Kohima much against the wishes of the citizens of the State.<\/p>\n
Talking to NEPS here on Tuesday, the veteran politician questioned the very motive of Chief Minister Zeliang for his going ahead with the proposals of setting up of \u201cRani Gaidinliu\u2019s Memorial\u201d centers at Kohima in the midst of oppositions from all the quarters.<\/p>\n
Lohe said Nagas were Christians and Zeliang himself was basically a Christian. \u201cHow can he (Zeliang) worship Rani Gaidinliu who was a cult leader,\u201d he asked. He also questioned as to how a building can be dedicated to a \u201ccult leader\u201d and where was the relevance here in Nagaland.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, we have so many Naga pioneers like AZ Phizo, Dr Imkongliba, P Shilu Ao, to name a few, and without whose leadership and sacrifices, people of Nagaland would not have come this far,\u201d Lohe stated and said, \u201cIt will only be befitting to have any memorial statues or museums or institutions in their names in our State.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Government should respect the sentiments of the people because going ahead with such proposals to the extent of setting up a statue, museum, etc. in the name of a cult leader at the cost of indigenous local people was tantamount to disrespecting their sentiments and generations, Lohe asserted. \u201cSuch moves are nothing but a big insult to the people of Nagaland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The former Nagaland Assembly Speaker, who was also Adviser to former Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, also alleged that Zeliang had no any other interests but to make money out of such proposals with the support of Center where the BJP was at the helm of affairs. There were anxieties that the RSS would take advantage from the present development in Nagaland in order to promote their Hindu ideology. \u201cBut we cannot allow this thing to happen in Nagaland,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n