A two day seminar was conducted on the topic, “Modernisation without Westernisation and illegal immigrants in the context of the North-east” in Kohima, which concluded today. The Nagaland home minister Thenucho spoke as the chief guest. Leaders from various sections of society such as retired police officers, senior journalists, community leaders, anthropologists, academics and politicians attended the seminar.

The home minister said that Naga society is obsessed with copying the western culture in its efforts to become modern and Christian. Mr. Thenucho said that illegal immigration posed an alarming danger to the sovereignty of the nation and indigenous people. It was a threat to the socio-cultural identity of indigenous people in the region. It also added to the menace of population explosion and was the cause of “all kinds of evils” in the society. He was upset that politicians are thriving on illegal immigrants to stay in power, while actually selling out their political and democratic rights.

The seminar emphasised that a solution should be found to stop both senseless westernisation and continuing immigration from Bangladesh. Importance was given to modernisation with the development of locally available culture, knowledge and genius instead of western imitations.