CRF alleges gross violations of rights to life and security

Dimapur, June 6 (MExN): The Civil Rights Forum Nagaland based in Peren district on Saturday issued an ‘open statement’ criticizing the ‘chaotic and pathetic condition of the Government of Nagaland’ in matters relating to handling the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a press release, the CRF alleged “gross violations of rights to life and security being committed in the state” and claimed that the “Government of Nagaland is showing apathy towards the lives of the people.”

It argued that since the announcement of the nationwide lockdown on March 24, “Despite sufficient allocations of funds from the centre for the purpose, the position of the state in term of equipment of medical facilities, technical provisions, containment and experts and frontline workers are failing far from the urgent requirement.”

Further it said that with influx of stranded returnees from various states of India, “Dimapur and Kohima quarantine centres turn-out to be confinement centre for all stranded returnees where COVID-19 are shared and distributed to all nook and corner districts of Nagaland.”  The state policies and Standard of Operating Procedures (SOP) are not only a failure but violated by the government itself, the CRF alleged.

Accusing the government of “making the COVID-19 pandemic as a play-thing,” the CRF stated that “the whole scenario is posing a threat to humanity and is a crime at its highest degree.”  It is time for Naga citizens to rise above the occasion and above petty and selfish issues and arguments and come out to fight against social injustices and corruptions, it said.

Further, it said that the “state of affairs of the government of Nagaland is pathetic and chaotic rooted in corruption and social discriminations,” and alleged that “the blunder of sending the tested positive along with 16 negative returnees to Peren district testified the fact that the incident of Tuensang episode of May 25 is of intentional negligence or willful ignorant on the part of Nagaland.” Holding the Government of Nagaland “answerable and responsible before the law,” the forum urged the government to spell out its position before the public, failing which it would be “compelled to probe into the matter and litigate under proper section of the Indian Penal Code in matter of negligence, disobedience and corruption.”