• Naga Hoho-ENPO cautions it will initiate action against govt if it fails to meet demand
• Tells govt to make womenfolk withdraw the PIL filed in the Supreme Court of India
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 10 (MExN): The decision of the TR Zeliang led Government to hold the Urban Local Bodies election with 33% reservation for women in early 2017 is gathering a big storm.
In a confrontational mode, the Naga Hoho and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) on Saturday served a 15-day ultimatum to the State Government to convene a special session and restore the 22nd September 2012 Assembly Resolution which was revoked at the 14th session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly in November 24, 2016.
In the ultimatum addressed to the Chief Minister, the two organizations maintained that the Naga people had stood “rock solid” with the decision of the Assembly when it passed a resolution that Part XI A of the Constitution of India should not be applied in the state of Nagaland, because of the fact that Article 243(M) grants the state an exception for implementation of the same Act.
It asserted that the 33% women reservation policy of India in their fight against the cursed caste system where lower castes are discriminated by dominant men folks cannot be equated with the social practice of the Nagas.
“No single Naga father denies his daughter to go to school. Likewise, each and every Naga men longs to see his daughter becoming a successful lady,” the two organization argued.
It therefore said what the constitution of India has recognized and exempted Nagaland State should be put back in place, because it is direct infringement to the Article 371(A) wherein Naga social practice is protected.
The Naga Hoho and the ENPO also asked the State Government not to issue Election Notification as of now, because of the fact that even if the State do so, implementing and conducting election to the ULBs without the participation of the people would rather “embarrass the Government.”
The two organizations also expressed its displeasure over the handling of the pressure applied by some “few women claiming to be representing the whole of Naga women.” It has therefore asked the State Government to make “these women folks withdraw the PIL filed in the Supreme Court of India.”
The two organizations wanted that “these women leaders” who have forgotten their ancestral Naga social fabric must maintain the Naga identity for the larger interest of the Nagas. The Naga Hoho and ENPO said that the ultimatum is served to “your good office reiterating the fact that you represent the people and therefore your government should listen to the voice and cries of the people.”
Failing to convene a special session and restoring the 22nd September 2012 Assembly Resolution within the given time frame, the Naga Hoho and the ENPO cautioned that it will be compelled to “initiate its own course of action against your government towards which end, the consequences should be your responsibilities.”
