Dimapur, November 27 (MExN): The Indigenous Minority Tribes of Nagaland (IMTN) is displeased with what it called “discriminatory attitude” of the present government and particularly the Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in ignoring to invite the four indigenous recognized tribes to the consultative meeting on Naga political issues scheduled for December 4, 2017.
IMTN which called itself “an apex platform for the four indigenous aboriginal recognized tribes of Nagaland – Kuki, Kachari, Garo & Mikir/Karbi – having its ancestral lands and settled in the state of Nagaland since time immemorial,” in a statement today reminded the NLA speaker that the four tribes have played their role and made sacrifices for the Naga political movement from its inception till date.
“(From) being a member of Naga Club to signing of the historical documents like the Simon Commission by Lenjang Kuki where many of the present so called stakeholder tribes were not even remotely present during those days,” said the statement from IMTN president, K. Lun Tungnung.
The participation of late Seihkohen Doungel and Jangkhosei Hangsing in the formation of the first Naga political organization under the banner of NNC and even becoming members of the drafting committee of the NNC constitution with legendary leaders like AZ Phizo, Sakhrie, etc “is a fact of our participation in Naga political movement from its initial days till date in various NPGs,” it added.
If the present political consultation does not cover the areas and lands inhabited by the four tribes, IMTN stated, “then we have no objection to our alienations and discriminations attitude of not inviting these stakeholders but assuming from the statement of various political leaders of both NPG groups and GOI, the areas inhabited by the four Minority Indigenous recognized tribes seems very much part of the negotiations by various NPGs, then the omission of these group shows the discriminatory attitude and alienation of its legitimate stakeholders in such crucial stage of our political movement.”
Stating that the omission of social bodies like CNTC, NTC, Senior Citizens Forum, Nagaland GB Federation and IMTN in the initial invitations for the consultative meeting “shows the hollowness and discriminatory attitude,” it added, “the attempt and conspiracy to keep away the Indigenous recognized tribes of Nagaland speaks volume of its real intent and discriminatory attitude of present government.”
IMTN requested to invite these groups/tribes in such critical junction of the Naga political movement “No tribes or groups having a stake whether big or small tribe, weak or strong should be left out and be equally made part of the consultative meet to discuss issues affecting us all in the days to come,” it demanded.
