Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir said the Congress party in the State was not only always for peace and prosperity but also had a clear vision for the welfare of the people.

The Chief Minister was speaking to Congress party workers at the Congress Bhawan in Mokokchung. He said the party had confidence in improving the economic condition of the people and that it alone was capable of delivering the goods to the people of the State.

"People can see for themselves that in the last ten years or so of Congress rule in the State, there has been rapid development in all spheres of life", said Jamir, who is also president of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC). "This has been possible because of stability in the Government and also because of our firm conviction that we are in power to serve the people".

Expressing confidence that the Congress party would surely return to power in the next term too, the Chief Minister, who has been in politics for over 40 years, urged upon the party men to be dedicated, loyal and sincere to the party principle. He also stated that election in the State would be held as scheduled, that is, sometime early next year and further added that the main agenda of the party would be peace through economic development. He said they had to ensure that every citizen received two square meals a day.

On the controversial letter written by him to P Shilu in 1963, Jamir said his detractors had been using this issue especially during elections for political mileage, but added that he still stood by what he said then.

"At no point of time, and no matter who is at the helm of affairs in the State, should the Government be bypassed when crucial decisions such as determining the destiny of the people are taken", said the Chief Minister. "In 1963, I disagreed with Jawaharlal Nehru meeting AZ Phizo without consulting the nascent State Government of Nagaland. I still maintain that the State government should not be kept in the dark in the ongoing peace talks between the factions of the NSCN and the Government of India".

Commenting on the 16-Point Agreement reached between the Naga people's Convention and the Government of India which led to the creation of Nagaland State in 1963, Jamir recalled the hardship faced by the Naga people at that point of time and how the end to violence was received by the people with relief.

An end to the untold miseries faced by their people was urgently required and the leaders of the Naga people's Convention endeavored to salvage the hopes and aspirations of the Naga people, Jamir said, adding Statehood was never considered as the final solution to the Naga political problem.