Hundreds of Nagas from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland on Thursday joined the Global Naga Forum (GNF) to organize a two-day Naga Solidarity Walk. The theme of the walk has been decided as ‘One People, One Destiny’.

It was scheduled from Kohima early on Thursday and will culminate with the expected convergence of thousands of Nagas in Senapati Town in Manipur on Friday afternoon, covering a distance of 81 km. They are supposed to halt midway to spend the night in the Maram Naga area in Manipur.

Addressing the flagging off programme, adviser of GNF and President Overseas Naga Association, Dr Visier Sanyu said, “While Naga people are deeply divided, the walk is a common journey to unite the Nagas as one and to defend the Naga history and land with the right spirit.”

“There is time for everything and this is the right time to come together and build the Naga nation as one people with one destiny,” he added.

He talked about how in the past, their ancestors fought to defend the land of Nagas with guns but violence has an expiry date and that period is gone. “We want to fight for our people with our heart and love,” Sanyu said.

“We want to show ourselves and the world that Naga people are one,” he said while expressing hope that the ‘walk will enrapture the Naga soul to do the right thing to receive blessing’.

“We are walking to become one people in order to defend our history and land with the right spirit," said Sanyu.

This is the first leg of a people's relay for unity and peace among Nagas.

“The GNF will conduct more such walks to reach out to Nagas in other states and countries," said GNF co-convener and advisor of Naga Mothers' Association, Rosemary Dz vich.

GNF officials announced that the walk is totally peaceful and requested all participants to refrain from indulging in any form of violence or untoward incidents and also not to provoke any security personnel.

As leaders and volunteers from various Naga tribal bodies and organisations will join the walk, people from different villages along the National Highway-29 have planned to provide refreshments and drinking water to them.

About the core motive of the walk, GNF President Chuba Ozukum on Wednesday told PTI that they are not talking about the ongoing peace process between the Naga groups and the Government of India.

“But this time, we are simply exhibiting our aspiration and willingness for our rights to live together because Nagas have been divided into different states," he added.