New dawn of peace beacons Nagaland: Governor

Kohima, Aug 14 (IANS) Governor R.N. Ravi on Wednesday said a new dawn of peace and prosperity is beaconing Nagaland.

In his message on the eve of India's Independence Day, Ravi, who is also the government's interlocutor for the ongoing peace talks with various Naga insurgent groups, including the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), said: "A new dawn of peace and prosperity is beaconing Nagaland."

".... we must not miss this historic opportunity. On this solemn occasion, I urge you all to commit ourselves to a pledge for building a Nagaland of our dreams which is the envy of the most advanced states of the Indian Union," he said.

Noting that India has emerged as the largest democracy in the world, the Governor said, "Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is rising to its long awaited destiny. It has become the 5th largest economy of the world, on way to becoming the 4th largest soon. We are aspiring to be a $ 5 trillion economy by 2025.

"In order to unleash the creative energies of our 1.3 billion people especially the youth, he said the India has laid solid foundations for innovation and enterprise. We are developing a thriving ecosystem of start-ups thus becoming a favoured destination for global investment".

Stating that Prime Minister Modi's cleanliness drive has become a mass movement, he said the Universal Service Obligation programmes are touching and transforming the lives of the most deprived and remotely located people.

"In the midst of all-round fast pace growth, it pains me when we don't see our Nagaland keeping pace with the advanced states of the Union, though in the last 55 years of statehood, Nagaland has undergone significant transformation," said the Governor.