The NSF office building in Kohima. (File Photo)
Kohima, July 24 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), on July 24, regretted that Naga Club building in Kohima has been “unfortunately” made an “issue of dispute out of the blue by some individuals who recently formed a Naga Club (NC) and are now not only laying claims as the “sole owners” but also issuing eviction orders to the NSF.
In a public statement clarifying its position on the ‘eviction orders’ issued by the present incumbent of the NC to vacate the building on or before August 27, the NSF wondered, “How do NSF pay rent to an organization from May 1983 till whatever date to an organization which was formed only in 2017/18?”
The “Notice to vacate” from the NC also alleged that the NSF had never paid the “house rent from May 1983 till date” after paying Rs 500 for month of April 1983 on 07.04.1983.
In this regard, the Federation further pointed out that in 1983, late Vizolie Sorhie, the then NSF President and General Secretary Imkong L Imchen, among other officials, were approached by the NC officebearers and Naga Elders Conference to reclaim the club's building, which was then occupied by the Forest Department.
Despite several attempts made to reclaim the same, the Department still refused to hand over the building to the rightful owner- the Naga Club. Subsequently, the NSF led by President late Vizolie; Finance Secretary Late Mechimvu Ritse; Member- Action Committee, Neingulo Krome Member- Action Committee; and ANCSU President, Kewezu G Kenye President “went and broke the lock and occupied the Naga Club building,” it narrated.
Even when the rent for the month of April 1983 was paid and received by the then NC General Secretary, late Vilavor Liegise, it was clearly mentioned “with the good consent of mutual understanding” to “facilitate and legitimise” the NC as the owner of the building, it added.
The building then was being claimed by another group of individuals, in the name of another NC, and the dispute matter was lying under the court of the Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, for hearing, it said.
The receipt of Rs 500 in April 1983, paid by the NSF became “evident of proof and the court ruled in favour of the Naga Club, which was never ever contested again,” it added.
“Otherwise, there was ‘mutual understanding’ that the Building will always belong to Naga Club and NSF will only be the guardian and custodian of the building according to demands of situations,” the NSF asserted.
Since the building was taken over in April 1983, it further noted that the Federation has been doing all repair and renovation works and its premises, including additional construction.
Meanwhile, the NSF said that it would not like to go into the details of countering the arguments put across which is already in the public domain, but instead appeal to the “conscience” of all Nagas and particularly, those “claiming to be leaders” of the NC to desist from creating “further embarrassments to themselves as well as projecting Nagas in very bad light.”
The Naga image is already in “serious cause of concern even from the uncontrollable fratricidal divisions in our national political struggle for our rightful place as envisioned by the collective pioneers and leaders of the Naga Club,” it said.
“We would rather retrospect and ask what each one of us have contributed to the Naga story or whether instead of contributing we are destroying ourselves and putting the future of upcoming generations in jeopardy,” it added.
Meanwhile, the NSF further regretted that the claims seem to be motivated with ulterior motives, as it was when the Federation decided to celebrate “100 Years of Naga Club” in 2018, to honour the club’s legacy, the current NC was “formed suddenly to even hijack our celebration”
Accordingly, it implied that the claims began resurfacing when the NSF began celebration of its 75 Years of Existence, under the theme, “Call to Oneness” for all Nagas to come together.
This is “turning ‘our celebration’ into ‘nightmare’,” it added.
The present incumbent who also has only occupied the office of the NSF from our predecessors and will be passing our responsibilities on to upcoming leaders have nothing to gain or to lose from such disputes, but history will be unkind if we are to let “greed and falsehood triumph” knowingly, without any prejudice to anyone, the NSF said.
Accordingly, the NSF also issued another public statement, “NSF and the Naga Club As We Know” (See page 5) appended by all former NSF Presidents from 1983 till the formation of a “new Naga Club” in 2018, for all to understand the reality.
NSF has and will always remain steadfast in upholding the interests of the Naga youths and all Nagas in general for unified Lim and glory of the Nagas, it added.
