New Delhi: In his last message, just before departing for Chennai, where he will take charge as the new Governor of Tamil Nadu, R. N. Ravi urged the youths on Wednesday (September 15) "to embrace truth and peace as against deceit and violence."
"The future of this state is in your hands. Please build the Nagaland of your dreams," he said in a message also shared on Twitter. In more ways than one, only a sincere man can say these words!
Truly, a very powerful message from a sincere man, who could have been misunderstood, but none can question his sincerity to resolve the Naga political problem. With all the limited powers, he did his best. Every neutral observer would feel the Naga youth must embrace peace and truth. Time to be pragmatic!
CM Rio at a farewell dinner party called R. N. Ravi a 'genuine' man.
A former Intelligence Bureau sleuth, Ravi has now been appointed as the new governor of Tamil Nadu. Ravi took charge as Nagaland Governor on August 1, 2019, and was also functioning as the peace Interlocutor to the two-decade-old Naga peace parley since 2014. During his stint came the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement with NSCN (IM) and the Preamble pact with NNPGs on November 17, 2017. However, lately, Ravi has developed differences with NSCN (IM) and chief minister Neiphiu Rio over several issues, including the "extortion" issue and corruption.
The NSCN (IM) has been demanding the replacement of Ravi as the peace Interlocutor.
The central government and key stakeholders feel the move to relieve from Nagaland reflects 'the maturity' manner of handling by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been given almost a free hand to handle the Nagaland affairs. Sources said that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NSA Ajit Doval, who was instrumental in getting Ravi as Interlocutor in 2014, would be busy with Afghan affairs.
"Jingoism never worked in the past, nor can it do so in the future. Thus, the decision to move Ravi as Governor was a right step," said a source suggesting henceforth all other stakeholders would henceforth be also 'expected to' come forward to push the 24-year-old peace parleys that had started in 1997.
On September 14, as a virtual parting gift to the state, the outgoing governor said he has tried to set up a 100 room patients hostel facility in Dimapur.
A Raj Bhavan statement said, Union Power Minister R. K. Singh, a friend of Ravi, has also agreed to meet "the cost of this project".
The central government sources feel it is high time, the NSCN (IM) gives up its twin demands of the separate Flag and a Constitution. Both the demands were unacceptable to any government in Delhi.
NPF leader and opposition leader TR Zeliang said Ravi's name is synonymous with the Indo-Naga political issue. He expressed hope that Ravi will continue to support the Naga people for an amicable solution to the Naga political issue.
The incumbent Assam Governor and Delhi-based politician Jagdish Mukhi has been given the additional charge of Nagaland. The Modi government has shown keenness to ensure the signing of a peace pact to resolve the long-pending Naga political problem. Besides the NSCN (IM), the centre would be heading towards inking a final peace pact with all these groups.
