Kohima, Mar 11 : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and prominent civil society groups today urged President Pratibha Patil to expedite the peace process saying the unresolved decades-old Naga political issue has brought about alienation among the people. Addressing a gathering at a public reception for Patil in Kisama bamboo heritage village here, Rio asked the government to make to "make concerted efforts to resolve the Naga political issue as the state and its people have been mired in conflict for too long and many precious lives have been lost".
He said the people of the state are anxiously waiting for a positive outcome of the Naga peace process.
During her two-day visit to the state, Patil interacted with representatives of apex tribal council Naga Hoho, NGOs and civil society groups and unveiled a monolith at the entrance of the main arena of the heritage village.
The Naga Hoho in a memorandum urged the President to see that the ongoing peace process was expedited and appealed to her for unconditional release of Naga political prisoners or detainee arrested during the ceasefire period.
Besides expediting the peace talks, some women NGOs requested her to initiate steps for implementation of 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in municipal and town councils in Nagaland.
In her speech at the public reception, Patil said, "This (northeastern) region stands strategically placed at the doorstep of the nations of South East Asia, and can play a crucial role in the development and effective fructification of our ''Look East Policy''.
"This will provide economic benefits to Nagaland also.
Increased connectivity with the nations to the east of India will open the scope for investment and tourism, including eco-tourism and culture tourism in the northeastern states, a sector which has not really so far performed to its potential," she said.
Rio expressed disappointment over lack of four-lane roads, adequate rail links, or an airport here. He also said that the state does not have a single Central or regional educational institution.
Patil, however, said that since attaining statehood in 1963, Nagaland has made significant progress.
"Even though development started under very challenging circumstances, much has been achieved over the years in different fields."
In the evening, Patil reached Manipur, where she was received at the Imphal airport by Governor Gurbachan Jagat and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh among others.
She will meet representatives of various social organisations tomorrow morning and lay the foundation stone of some institutions before leaving for New Delhi.
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