DIMAPUR, MARCH 9 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu today met members of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) and the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) for dialogue to resolve misunderstandings, saying that he “believes any kind of misunderstanding or difference can be resolved only through discussions and free and frank deliberations.”
A press note from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) informed that the CM interacted with a 4-member delegation of the NTAC/ JCC led by NTAC Co-convenor Neivor Rutsa and JCC Co-convenor Vekhosayi Nyekha, who called on him this morning to submit a memorandum.
The Nagaland CM said as leaders, “all of us do things we believe are best for our people and society” and that if any mistakes have been committed, free and frank discussions should be held to reach better understanding among all stakeholders so that leaders can continue to contribute to the society at large. “There is no reason why we together cannot solve problems,” he said and appealed to the leaders to be “more patient, more steady and solve differences through dialogue.”
Assuring that his government would do whatever is in the best interests of the people, the Chief Minister said “nobody gained out of the unpleasant developments in the recent past. Confrontations with our own people do not benefit anyone and the Government exercised maximum restraint.”
The CM further called upon the JCC/NTAC leaders to “refrain from harbouring negative feelings” and to come forward for more discussions about “what will be good for the Naga society.”
Reminding the leaders that the population of Nagaland is not even the size of a single colony in metropolitan cities, the Chief Minister suggested that Nagas should “learn to live together as a people and a family” rather than segregating ourselves into different communities and organisations.
“Politics can be dirty at times, and some may take advantage of situations some times,” he said, according to the CMO press release, but reminded the leaders that “we ourselves can solve our problems and not by others.”
Repeal or amend Nagaland Municipal Act, demands NTAC, JCC
The Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) and the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) have written to the Nagaland State Chief Minister, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu reiterating their demand for the amendment or repeal of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001.
A letter appended by NTAC President, KT Vilie and JCC Convener, Supu Jamir stated that Nagaland has been passing through a period of unrest and turmoil for the last many days, which it said emanated out of the holding of Urban Local Bodies elections leading to the loss of lives and causing huge loss to the Government.
“All such occurrence of unpleasant situations is the by-product of holding ULB elections against the wishes of the people,” it said. The letter pointed out that the existing Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 is “nothing but a bag of borrowings from other municipal laws which do not suit the cultural and social practices of the Nagas.”
“We all know that the issue is very delicate but needs remedial measures so as to have a sound and comprehensive legislation to suit with the system applicable in Nagaland,” it said. The NTAC and the JCC stated: “it is deemed fit and appropriate to request your authority to constitute a Committee/ Law Commission consisting of eminent persons and experts in the field to examine for amendment/repeal of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 at an early date preferably within a period of three months.”
Till such steps are taken, the organisations felt it would not be appropriate to hold the ULB elections in Nagaland “in the best interest of all concerned.”
