DIMAPUR, JANUARY 4 (MExN): The Angami Public Organization (APO), the Naga Council Dimapur and the Meluri Area Public Organization on Wednesday came up with more stringent resolutions to thwart the filing of the nomination papers and holding of the municipal and town council elections in their jurisdictions.
At an emergency meeting convened on January 4, the APO resolved to “excommunicate any Angami man/woman for a period of 10 years from Angami jurisdiction” if they violate its directives and file his/her nominations to the ULB elections in any district.
It also directed all the Village Council Chairmen not to allow any intending candidate hailing from their village to file nomination. Further, the APO directed all the intending candidates irrespective of tribe, for the forthcoming elections to the Kohima Municipal Council to attend a consultative meeting with their executives at the APO hall, Kohima on January 5.
In a similar fashion, the Naga Council Dimapur held a public meeting with Dimapur based civil societies, tribal presidents to discuss on the ULB election with 33% reservation. The meeting unanimously reaffirmed to oppose the conduct of the ULB election and implementation of 33% women reservation.
A press release issued by the Naga Council stated that until and unless the section, which infringes the right and interest of the Nagas as provided under Article 371A is reviewed by the State Government, the election would stand opposed.
It also put on record that since the matter is pending disposal before the Supreme Court in the form of a special leave petition filed by JAC, the issue of 33% reservation in respect to Nagaland is subjudice. In view of this, the Naga Council contended that implementation of women reservation is “pre-mature and not the right time.”
It also cautioned that conducting the election in the face of such stiff opposition would definitely effect counter legal consequences.
The Naga Council Dimapur also appealed to tribal hohos/union/units based in Dimapur to direct their respective members to refrain from filing nomination in the “interest of Nagas in general.” It went on to add that violation of the appeal would amount to “disrespect of the collective decision and for which the concerned tribal unit/members would be held responsible.”
The Meluri Area Public Organization in a joint statement appended by the Meluri Village Council, Khumiasü Village Council, Müluo Shefüri Kügharü and Ward Chairmen served directive to all indenting candidates to strictly adhere by the decision to boycott the Meluri Town Council Election 2017 and abstain from filing nominations.
“Anyone failing to comply by the consensus decision shall be treated as a direct challenge to our stand to which he / she shall be excommunicated from Meluri jurisdiction for violation,” the joint statement read.
Decision for ULB election on respective tribes: ENPO
The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) has put the decision on whether to allow the conduct of ULB election to the “understanding and responsibility of the respective tribes” under its jurisdiction. This decision was made during an emergency consultative meeting of the ENPO held on January 4 at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur. Also in response to the written clarification from the Nagaland Government, the ENPO resolved that it shall not be held responsible in any manner in the event of infringement upon Article 371A of the Indian Constitution by holding the ULBs election with women reservation under Nagaland Municipal (Third Amendment) Act 2016 now and in the future.
