Masangum
September 30
Peren (MExN: Yesterday’s emergency meeting jointly convened by the Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Students’ Union and Zeliangrong Mepui Association at Peren on the much debated delimitation issue lent a desperate voice of the people on the need to have at least more than one representative to the State’s august house from the district.
Leaders of different Zeliangrong organisations and political parties who took part in the ever biggest gathering sums up never to give up their cry unless the delimitation act is affected, which is the “legitimate rights” of the people.
The gathering, after a marathon discussion, resolved to pursue the matter for its implementation through all available strategies and means such as writing to the Delimitation Committee and holding consultations. President of the Zeliangrong Baudi, Dennis Elung, who chaired the meet, averred that addition of another MLA seat for the people of Peren district has become a prerogative rather than a demand for mere enhancement of constituency.
He lamented that despite the dubbing of the area as backward and its high population growth, the state continued to mete out half-hearted treatment to the people of the district.
Dennis recalled how the earlier governments had been denying the creation of Peren district before the DAN government had implemented their demand. He further said that as the district has only two representatives, the people have least say and development was being derailed.
Wizabo, prominent social worker and retired Director argued that some major tribes were playing delay tactics in smooth implementation of the Delimitation Act.
He said that Peren district desired not only the proposed 3 seats but even 4 as per the population while stating that everything had been politicized.
Kevi Legiese, another prominent political leader said that even for the Centre the issue was “whether to hear the people or the State”.
He viewed that Zeliangrong people have been politically, economically and socially suppressed by both the state government and other major tribes.
Kevi disclosed that implementation of the Delimitation Act would affect the important constituencies of other districts and as such some leaders are in favour of it.
Implementation of the Act will surely antagonize the State Government as the latter is against its introduction in the state.
It may be mentioned here that the chief minister and some of his colleagues had reportedly told that the centre not to implement the Act until the Indo-Naga talks finds a settlement.
However, the members present decided to go ahead with their demand for another proposed seat. “We want it now and now, not later”, said one of the village representatives during the discussion.
Meanwhile, the house came down heavily on the so called Zeliang People Organisation (ZPO), which is claiming to be the parallel body of the Zeliangrong Baudi.
Several speakers at the meeting denounced the formation of ZPO and its activities terming it as “malicious” and not possessing the mandate of the Zeliangrong people.
The meeting, while questioning the authenticity of the ZPO, asked the latter to withdraw the NPSC case terming it as dragging the name of the whole community for individual interests.
It also decided to suspend the ZPO until proper standards were fulfilled and the mandate of people attained.
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