| caption: |
Longri's meeting with Bardoloi in Shillong |
| text: |
'After the Kohima meeting in August' he continued, 'I had to go to Shillong. I stayed there four days and attended the Christian Council. One day I met Mr. Bardoloi. "Why won't you let the Nagas rule themselves?" I said. "Once they accept the agreement," Mr. Bardoloi said, "I shall have no objection at all. I will give you a Naga Deputy Commissioner. You can even have Kevichusa." "Do not send us a non-Naga," I said, "If the (95) N.N.C. has to fight it will do so with non-violence. But if you send a non-Naga, the Angamis will go mad. Nothing will restrain them. The Naga Hills will not be safe for him. The Nagas will kill him." |
| text: |
'Until last year I was Congress-minded. I used to speak at Congress meetings. All the Assam Congress leaders know me. But they want to turn the Naga Hills into a plains district. "Why do you want to rule the Nagas?" I said. "Why cannot you leave the Nagas alone?" But they would never listen. Now I am with my people and I will never go back.' |
