Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 21
Nagaland Govt cautions against unlawful acts during any public demonstrations
Nagaland State Government has instructed the District Administration and Police to make it clear to the organizers/groups/bodies giving the calls for demonstration/agitation/bandh that the responsibility of ensuring that their agitation/demonstration is peaceful and within the four walls of the law rests on them.
Home Commissioner Nagaland in a press communiqué dispatched via CMO on Saturday cautioned that in the event of unlawful acts or violence on the part of the agitators/mob leading to injury or death or damage to property, both private and public, the organizers/leaders shall also be held criminally and civilly liable for such acts/violence. Further, the communiqué stated that instances have come to the notice of Gaon Buras (GBs) having taken part in agitation/demonstration called by various organizations, bodies and groups to oppose the conduct of elections to the Urban Local Bodies in the state.
“The Gaon Buras, having been appointed by the District Administration to aid and assist the Government, are not expected to campaign or participate in any agitation/demonstration/rally which is against the Government programme or policies,” it stated.
Similarly, the communiqué also reminded Government servants that they are bound by conduct rules. Therefore, any Gaon Bura or Government servant found to be indulging in activities inimical to the smooth and peaceful conduct of elections to the ULB polls will be liable to be prosecuted by the District Administration for which, instructions have been issued accordingly by the Government, the press communiqué informed.
CNTC reiterates appeal to postpone ULB election
The Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has once again appealed to the Nagaland State Government to postpone the ULB elections and take heed to the voice of the people.
It also appealed the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) to withdraw their case, which is still pending in the Supreme Court and to trash out whatever differences confronting the different parties on the reservation issue.
Media cell, CNTC in a press statement said it was not against the ULB elections but against the 33% reservation issue, which need serious deliberation for all stakeholders so that it become acceptable for all.
It also asked all the candidates to abstain from contesting the coming elections and renounce their candidature, which it claimed, would speak volumes of their integrity and solidarity, which would be remembered for all the coming generations on upholding the traditional rights and customs of the Nagas.
Taking the instance of the state capital Kohima and some other districts where there was nil nomination to the upcoming ULB elections, the press statement appealed to the state government to consider their continuous appeal made by the various civil societies.
The CNTC also appealed to all to maintain restraint amongst the conflicting parties and to sort out the matter peacefully for the betterment of our people, which will be beneficial for all. It also lauded the effort of all the Naga tribes that came together on the crucial issue.
Shutter down in Wokha Town on Jan 23
All candidates from Wokha Town Council forfeits candidature
All intending candidates to the Wokha Town Council elections have forfeited their candidature, according to the Lotha Hoho Joint Action Committee. While a few candidates had already backed out from the contest during the last few days, the rest of the candidates resolved to forfeit their candidature on Saturday, the Committee has claimed.
Among these, include four candidates belonging to Longsa village who decided to forfeit their candidature heeding to the directive from the village authority. The Longsa village council had called a meeting with the candidates on January 21, whereby it was demanded that no person from the village should contest in the ULB elections.
On Friday, candidates hailing from Wokha village had forfeited their candidatures on pressure from the village council. Altogether, there were 24 valid candidates to the Wokha Town Council to contest from 12 wards.
Meanwhile, the Lotha Hoho Joint Action Committee has called for a shutter down in Wokha Town on January 23 (Monday) from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm in protest against the ensuing urban local bodies’ elections. Traffic and public movement will not be restricted, informed the Joint Action Committee. The Committee also warned election duty officials not to collect postal ballots.
Mention may also be made that the Joint Co-ordination Committee (JCC) Dimapur has also called for a public rally to protest against the conduct of polls scheduled on February 1.
Day-to-day activities not to be affected on January 23: NCD
The Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) has informed that normal day-to-day activities will not be affected and all business, private, government establishment would run as usual on the day of the proposed public rally on January 23, 20167.
Informing this, NCD president T Bangerloba in a press note appealed to all the public to attend the rally so as to come to a consensus solution to the present crisis.
