MOKOKCHUNG, SEPTEMBER 2 (MExN): The Ao Senden today stated that unless the Nagaland Government “re-amends” the contents of the Municipal Act, “which is detrimental to the culture and customs of the Ao people, the Ao’s will not allow the conduct of municipal elections.
The act, stated a press release from the Ao Senden, “is totally in contradiction to the customs and culture of Aos and Nagas in general.” It reminded that the Ao Senden has been “pressurising the State Government to redress the said act and for which as a non-acceptance of the Act the Ao’s under the jurisdiction of Mokokchung district has refrained the conduct of the town and Muncipal elections for the last 10 (ten) years.”
“And, with understanding the said Act, the remaining other tribes and districts of Nagaland had debarred the Town and Municipal election for the last 5 (five) years,” it added. It further expressed concern that “as of now, the State Government is contemplating to implement the said Act by conducting election and for which there are various acceptance voices from different corners and organisations.”
“Sensing the bitter contents of the Act,” the Ao Senden informed that it had convened a meeting of stakeholders on September 2 at Ongpangkong Salang, Mokokchung Town and deliberated on the issue in detail and finally resolved to stand by its earlier stand that unless the State Government “re-amends” the act, it would not allow municipal elections to be held.
The Ao Senden further stated that “using the power to legislate and re-amend, the Government of Nagaland can easily re-amend the said article which is very contradictory and anti-people.”
The meeting further lamented on the “non-sincerity of the elected members for simply legislating the said act against the aspirations of the people.”
