Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 16
A delegation of frontline Naga organization under the aegis of the United Naga Council yesterday met with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and some of his Cabinet colleagues at Kohima and submitted a cheque of Rs 14.6 lakhs collected as hills house tax from across the four Naga dominated areas of Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul. However, the Chief Minister declined to accept the collected taxes due to “some technical problems” and told the leaders that he is not in a position to accept the money. The cheque would be handed over the Prime Minister instead, sources informed. It was also informed that of the 27 villages in the Naga areas only one was yet to submit the taxes for this year. The villages had submitted drafts with tax declarations attached to them. It may be mentioned here that on November 14, 2005 the Nagas of Manipur resolved to pay Manipur government-imposed hill house tax either to the Nagaland Government or the Centre but not to Imphal.
Stepping up pressure on Delhi for integration of contiguous Naga areas and intensifying its non-cooperation movement against the Government of Manipur, a delegation under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC) left for Delhi June 16 to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh besides the cheque amount.
The delegation comprise of altogether 11 central executives from the United Naga Council, Naga Women Union Manipur, All Naga Students Union Manipur, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights and the Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland).
Other demands in the memorandum reportedly includes affiliation of all schools in Naga areas in Manipur to the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) and renaming of all Naga towns and villages, districts, historical sites, schools etc in Manipur.
All schools in the Naga areas in Manipur are now reported to be using NBSE textbooks which were “supplied” about 2 months ago. Likewise, the NBSE is expected to take up with the Ministry of Human Resources, the issue of affiliation. Only yesterday, a resolution adopted at the Consultative Committee for Peace decided to urge the Centre to allow affiliation to the Nagaland Board.
