Representatives of urban colony council forums from Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung and 36 other smaller towns, at the consultative meeting held in Mokokchung on September 16. (Morung Photo)
Hohos asked to keep tabs on orgs and individuals harmful to protection of the Article
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | September 16
The Select Committee on the Nagaland Municipal Bill has been asked to delete any sections which would violate the provisions of Article 371 (A). The three urban colony council forums from Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung, along with 36 others, made the appeal at the “consultative meeting” convened in Mokokchung town on September 16.
The meeting “resolved to appeal to the select committee to delete sections or clauses which is or may likely infringe Article 371 (A) before the Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023 becomes an Act and further resolved to have another consultative meeting after the bill becomes an Act,” stated the media handout containing a set of 4 resolutions adopted at the meeting.
It was jointly signed by the Presidents of All Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP), All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT) and Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF).
It claimed to acknowledge the consultative meetings convened by the state government on March 9, 2022 and September 1, 2023 and “resolved to abide by the wisdom and decision of the Tribal Hohos” in conducting the election to the ULBs.
It also contained what was assumed to be a veiled threat to proponents of women’s reservation in the Nagaland Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). The forums appealed the tribal hohos “to identify individuals or organizations, who are detrimental to the protection and preservation of Article 371 (A) by initiating certain precautionary measures in the interest of Nagas.”
While awaiting a verdict on the PIL filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) in the Supreme Court, it expressed appreciation over what was stated to be the government, tribal hohos, women organisations, students’ bodies and various political parties for accepting the resolution to go for elections to the ULBs “with the newly drafted Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023.”
Thejao Sekhose, AKMWP President told the media after the meeting that the state government has never once invited the urban colony council forums to the two consultative meetings. He further stated that the ULBs strongly stand against the land and building tax and will stand against anything that infringes the Naga land holding system. The clause on ‘land and building’ (property tax), which was included in the erstwhile Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001, is not incorporated in the Nagaland Municipal Bill, 2023.
