Dimapur, Oct 5 (MExN): The seemingly innocuous youth day celebrations of the Chakhesang Youth Front to be held October 18-19 at Chozuba has run into a thick political soup with involved sides taking stands vis-à-vis respective political parties, the NPF and the Congress. The NPF units of Phek and Meluri have already denounced holding of the proposed youth day alleging hands of the Opposition Congress while the Chozuba Range Public Organization and Chozuba Ad-Hoc Town Committee have reportedly decided not to allow holding of the event.
The genesis of the wrangling can be traced back to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by two CYF leaders challenging the appointment of several MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries on grounds that ‘there is not the need for providing parliamentary secretaries when a full-fledged council of ministers is already in place’. The Meluri and Phek NPF youth wings are charging the CYF of “actively involving themselves at the behest of disgruntled politicians…thus it appears that they are doing the job of the opposition Congress”. The reason for the NPF’s charge is this: the CYF has invited (former Congress Chief Minister of Nagaland) Governor of Goa SC Jamir.
The Meluri NPF, following its Phek counterpart’s condemnation of the CYF’s action, charged the PIL filed by CYF president Mosonyi Nukhu and Advisor Neilo Khape as “acting against the interests of Nagas in general and Chakhesangs in particular”. “The PIL was filed at a time when most states affected by downsizing of their ministries had been appealing for expansion because ministers are overloaded with more portfolios than they can handle effectively. Unlike bureaucrats, ministers have so many commitments like going on regular tours to various parts of the state as well as outside the state attending various functions etc., that they need Parliamentary Secretaries to assist them” Meluri NPF youth president Zavepa Veswuh maintained. “Besides, the perks and emoluments are from non-plan expenditure and so is no burden on the state exchequer” he explained swiftly.
“These two CYF leaders had also been trying to invite former Congress Chief Minister Shri. SC Jamir as the chief guest for the proposed occasion. The CYF is basically an NGO and should remain neutral in political matters whereas its current president and advisor are actively involving themselves at the behest of disgruntled politicians. Thus it appears that they are doing the job of the Opposition Congress” it added.
Meanwhile, the Chozuba Town Youth Association has appealed to the parties involved to refrain from creating an issue out of the youth day on lines of “party-ism”. Reminding that the CYF is neither a political body nor “a body of favoritism”, the CTYA reminded that CYF stands for welfare of the Chakhesang community. “Therefore, it should be notably good for any political parties either NPF or Congress to unitedly support the programme” stated the release issued by the association’s convener.
Meanwhile, the Phek NPF has made clear that it would prevent holding of any such function within its jurisdiction. “Despite repeated requests to relinquish their positions Mosonyi Nukhu and Neilo Khape failed to resign and also the fact that CYF executive council has failed to impeach them implies that CYF has endorsed their action of filing the PIL and thereby working against the interests of the Chakhesang community as a whole. Therefore, the NPF Phek division has fully endorsed the decision of the youth wing to prevent any function from being held within its jurisdiction by the controversial organization in question” stated a release from the division’s President Chivotso Nienu and General Secretary Wepe Mekrisu.
Also, the NPF Youth Wing of the 19th Phek A/C while registering strong protest against “such self-vested, short sighted and irrational leaders” and in full support to the NPF Youth Wing, 18th Chozuba A/C has decided not to allow CYF meeting under the leadership of Mosonyi Nukhu and Neilo Khape under any circumstances.
