DIMAPUR, JUNE 26 (MExN): The Lotha Students' Union (LSU) has expressed concern at the reported recommendations of the Nagaland State BJP President, Temjen Imna Along, and Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, to postpone the delimitation exercise.
“Such a deceitful step taken by our leadership has deeply hurt the sentiments of the younger generation of Lothas and our fellow tribes affected by this illogical and disproportionate distribution of assembly seats,” a press release from the LSU President, Ashanthung Humtsoe and General Secretary, Pithungo Shitio stated.
The LSU said “it will be extremely unwise on the part of the Central Government and the ECI to take inputs of only a few vested individuals while disregarding the voices of the long hegemonized and disprivileged Naga tribes and discrediting the Constitutional mandate by recommending postponement of the delimitation exercise.”
It meanwhile said that the BJP “should be extremely cautious before making such careless and insensitive utterances in public domain.”
The LSU alleged that the “shameful and shady politics played upon tribalism is evident for the world to witness, of how our leaders have today stood testimony to building a disunited Nagaland and have chosen to remain victims of divide and rule policy.”
The LSU said that the Lotha community is “not asking for anything beyond reasonable but only to give back what rightfully belongs to us.”
Stating that delimitation exercise is a Constitutional mandate and must be respected, the LSU said that the younger generation has had enough of shrewd politics which has hampered progress and development in the region.
The union further claimed that “vested interests are manipulating the minds of our people by mixing the two completely independent issues of ‘Solution’ and ‘Delimitation’.”
“Let us not create a delusional paradox by juxtapositioning two unrelated issues. Delimitation should be implemented as stipulated by the Constitution of India and Naga solution should be implemented as agreed upon by the Government of India and the Naga people,” the LSU said.
It asserted that the delimitation within the stipulated timeline must be completed “based only on truth, fact and logic and only as mandated by the Constitution of India.”
Lotha Hoho: The Lotha Hoho Chairman Mhondamo Ovung and Joint Secretary Amos Lotha, in a separate release condemned the recommendations and stated that “The LH is given to understand that the Nagaland BJP President and Chief Minister had recommended the postponement on their own; without consent of party legislators or party leaders,” and termed it as “vested tribalistic interest against the general Naga interest.”
It contended that the “Naga Political Settlement and Delimitation are two entirely different issues and linking the two issues is only a lame excuse and with vested interest.”
“All Nagas have been given to understand, long ago, that the Naga Settlement is within the India Constitution. Hence Delimitation is not going to disturb any decree of the Indian Constitution or the Delimitation,” it said.
The LH will oppose this “unfair and tribalistic attitude,” it said, while adding reaffirming its support on its earlier stand in support of delimitation.
“Since the Delimitation Act is passed by the Indian Parliament and since the Delimitation Commission is constituted by the BJP government of India, a party leader who opposes the ordinance of its own government, like Temjen Imna Along, must be removed from office and taken disciplinary action,” it stated.
