DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 30 (MExN): The Pledge Campaign of PAC/Naga Council to create awareness against Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants (IBIs) originally slated for 14th August last but deferred to an unspecified date due to unfavourable situations will be launched on 2nd October at the office of Naga Council at 11 am, Tuesday. It will be a short programme signifying the campaign against aliens in the state, informed a press note issued by the PAC on behalf of Naga Council.
Describing it as one of the most important issues ever taken up by Naga Council, the pledge shall be along two lines (see box) and every Naga will be requested to take the pledge. It was informed that “Pledge Registers” will be kept at Naga Council office and at prominent places like shops, popular hangouts, etc., for people to sign.
Slowly such registers will be placed all over the districts under the sponsorship or patronage of local organizations.
Every NC Councillor is requested to prevail upon their respective tribes and bring members in the numbers mentioned below to participate in the campaign: Anal: 15 members; Angami: 50 members; Ao: 50 members; Chakhesang: 30 members; Lotha: 50 members; Mao: 15 members; Pochury: 15 members; Poumai: 15 members; Rengma: 15 members; Rongmei: 15 members; Sumi: 50 members; Tangkhul: 15 members and Zeliang: 15 members.
Every tribal hoho presidents are requested to co-operate keeping aside all pending works and ensure that respective community leaders and members attend the programme. Naga Council stated that it was convicted that the Pledge Campaign is a must to preserve Naga society. “Its importance is no less than the Naga movement itself. Therefore, every tribal attendance will be noted and thereafter displayed for posterity in the Conference Hall of Naga Council”.
An open invitation has been given to everyone to attend, witness and sign the pledge register. However, the special invitees are: all NC executives and Councillors, tribal hoho presidents, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD), all political parties, district administration, DMC, YAN, Dimapur Colony Chairmen Forum, all GB associations, DCCI, CII, DBPF, DBYF, DBWF, Senior Citizens’ Forum, church leaders, schools and college principals, leaders of all mass-based organisations, all youth organisations, members of all welfare organisations, publicly spirited individuals, intellectuals, TNB members of Facebook and DNSU.
Every Naga requested to the pledge
1. The whole gamut of IBIs business establishments- paan shop, butchers, vegetable vendors, secondhand retail shops, groceries, etc., shall be boycotted. In short, there shall be a total economic boycott. Any business establishment employing IBIs shall be boycotted too. However, keeping in view the immediate economic realities of the state, IBI labour force, including agriculture labourers shall be kept outside the purview of boycott for the time being but such will be considered in the next phase. Citizens are requested to patronize Naga business establishments and of Indian citizens such as Marwaris, Biharis, Bengalees, etc.
2. Every bonafide Naga shall pledge not to keep IBIs as tenants- in their own residences, plots and commercial buildings. Living space shall be denied to IBIs at all cost. This is part of social boycott.
.jpeg)
