(Left)Nagaland Governor, RN Ravi and Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio ringing the traditional bong to open the 2019 edition of the Hornbill Festival. (Right) A view of the opening ceremony of the Hornbill Festival at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama on December 1. File Photo
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has criticized the Nagaland State Government’s reported “decision to celebrate the annual Hornbill festival 2020.”
“The party is surprised to see the heartless attitude of the PDA Government to conduct the annual festival, despite knowing the fact that Naga society is reeling under threat due to the Corona Virus pandemic hitting our state and the positive cases increasing each single day,” a press release from the NPF press bureau stated.
It pointed out that each passing day, positive cases are increasing and termed the State Government’s “announcement to celebrate Hornbill Festival this year as nothing but ‘Suicidal Mission’.”
While this year’s celebration will reportedly be a digital event, the NPF however noted that “even if the celebration maybe in virtual form, a festival is a festival, and in any festival celebration, without people’s participation there cannot be any celebration.”
“Therefore, if the Government is on the process to celebrate the festival without public participation then there is no need to hold any celebration,” the opposition party noted.
It reminded that when total lockdown was observed in the State, “the virus did not hesitate to enter our State.” “Then how far it is safe to celebrate the Hornbill Festival in whatever way the Government is contemplating to? Can the Government assure the Naga public that nothing will happen to any participants by the virus?” the NPF questioned.
It meanwhile pointed out that the pandemic has curtailed many income generating activities of the public, educational institutions have been closed down, many business establishment were limited, religious places were yet to function normally, and many communities “abstained from celebrating their own festival due to the fear of virus transmission.”
“Then how come the State Government takes a U-turn to celebrate such an event?” it posed.
The NPF said that despite enforcing SOPs like wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining social distance as effective preventive measures, “it is a proven story that the number of positive cases is soaring to 8000 plus and 22 person already died due to the virus in the state as per official report.”
“Then how far can we contain the virus from community transmission by enforcing the SOP during the celebration of Hornbill?” the party questioned.
“The State Government must be well aware that positivity rate in Nagaland has surpassed the national rate, which clearly indicates that our state has higher transmission than the national rate,” it added.
The NPF acknowledged that the Hornbill Festival is a “perfect opportunity to improve our tourism sector and a time to showcase our traditional heritage to the outside world.” However, it stated that as the situation dictates this year the influx of international and domestic tourist from different places into the State will prove “catastrophic and with the increase in community transmission of the Novel Corona Virus, the celebration of Hornbill Festival in the state will be a complete disaster.”
“When the international sports mega event Olympic can be cancelled due to the pandemic which is to be hosted by the one of the world most advanced countries, Japan then what is contemplating the Nagaland PDA Government to hold the Hornbill Festival at the cost of the public life,” it stated.
It therefore reminded the PDA Government that “it is not a time for merry making and momentary pleasure but to ensure the safety of its people and change its decision for the safety of its people.”
