Dimapur, June 12 (MExN): The Lotha Hoho (LH) on Friday expressed disapproval regarding the meeting of the 14 tribes of Nagaland held on June 12 at APO Hall Kohima to deliberate on the delimitation process in the State.
It claimed that the meeting was ‘conducted in a manner that defied all democratic norms.’
Pointing out the poor manner in which the meeting was convened, the LH alleged that the Tribal bodies were not intimated properly and the proposal of a ‘seasonal chairman and secretary’ for the meeting was not followed.
“As the meeting began, the apparently pre-arranged chairperson came out with a prepared draft representation to the Governor which was not read out,” the LH statement revealed, and added that the Presidents/Chairmen of tribal Hohos were only asked to say whether they opt for solution first or delimitation first.
The meeting which was called only to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to whether a tribe chooses delimitation or solution first, according to the Lotha Hoho, was in defiance of democratic value, and implied that GOI was asking Tribal Hohos to choose one from the other, it added.
The Lotha Hoho maintained that if Nagaland Tribes are so genuinely serious in Naga issue, then the political approach should be a choice between elections or settlement but not delimitation.
“What has delimitation exercise to do with the Naga issue as long as Nagaland is a State within the Union of India?” it questioned.
The LH further said that “the sacrosanct Naga movement” should not be demeaned with “a domestic affair like delimitation.”
In view of the above, the Lotha Hoho asserted that it does not subscribe to the decision taken in the meeting held on June 12.
