ENCSU to begin 3rd phase of agitation
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 1 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland College Students’ Union (ENCSU) on Saturday announced its decision to resume agitation- the third phase - from October 5, 2016 onwards until the Nagaland State Government meets its demand for allocation of the four MBBS seat reserved under Backward Tribe (BT) category.
A press release issued by ENCSU chairman Longre Chang and joint secretary Nokchem Angth informed that the agitation, which would be in phase wise manner, is to be held across the 4 (Four) districts of Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng.
In the first, movement of government vehicles across Eastern Nagaland would be restricted. If the demand is not met during the first phase, it would be followed by shutting down of all government offices across Eastern Nagaland. This would then be followed by total bandh across Eastern Nagaland till the demand is met, the ENCSU stated.
However, all the emergency services, security forces, magistrates on duty and the students appearing end semester exam would be exempted, it stated.
According to the ENCSU, the decision to resume the agitation was prompted after the State Government and the department concerned violated their assurance of September 6, 2016 not to fill up the 4 MBBS seat till the Cabinet decide on the matter.
Instead, the department internally filled up all the MBBS seats including 3 additional seats even before the Cabinet took its decision on the matter on September 26, 2016, it alleged.
Further, the ENCSU also opposed the decision of the Cabinet to allocate four BDS seats as replacement against the four MBBS seats. “If there were no candidates among BTs qualified to study MBBS than how come the same candidates are found qualified for BDS since the same qualification is prescribed for both MBBS and BDS?” the ENCSU questioned while alleging that “there was deep rooted intention to deprive the BTs of MBBS seats.”
The ENCSU also informed all the government employees posted in Eastern Nagaland “to be stationed in their respective place of duty” during the course of agitation. No leave of any kind be granted during this period unless on serious health ground, it added.
The decision to resume the agitation was taken during an emergency meeting of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO), Eastern Nagaland Gazetted Officers' Association (ENGOA), Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation (ENWO), Eastern Naga Students' Federation (ENSF), Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Union, Kohima (ENPUK) and others on September 30 in Kohima.
