Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 15
Residents of Northern Angami Colony (Walford) and representatives from all 24 villages under Northern Angami villages under the banner of ‘Chakhroma Northern Angami Kuda Union’ (CNAKU), on Thursday staged a protest rally at Northern Angami Colony Public playground to oppose encroachment of the public ground.
The protest rally was held against the backdrop of the ongoing construction of ‘Working Women Hostel’ initiated by the Northern Angami Public Organization (NAPO), threatening to wipe out half of the playground.
More than 300 people holding placards and banners exhibited their solidarity to the protest rally and endorsed the decision of CNAKU to serve a month-long ultimatum to contractors of the hostel to remove all construction materials from the site or face legal action. A host of leaders from Northern Angami based in Dimapur in their speeches also appealed to NAPO to shift the site of the hostel.
A pioneer of the colony, Kevise Sogotsu, in his address said CNAKU or residents of Northern Angami Colony were not against NAPO for initiating any developmental works in the colony, but not at the cost of the playground.
In an impassioned speech, Kevise said for residents of the colony, the playground has become more than a symbol of a religious site as the playground has served as the venue for many tribes and communities to host various events including tribal festivals, Christmas programmes and other social gatherings.
“Besides these, this playground has converted many youths from the colony who were into alcohol and drugs to turn into new leaves and all along provided a green field for children to bask in the sun”, Kevise said.
Kevise cautioned that the residents of the colony will oppose tooth and nail if the playground was demolished for the sake of money.
Former DMC Vice Chairperson, DP Angami, said the public ground is not just for the Northern Angami people but even for everyone. He said if NAPO had to bring a big project for the welfare of the people, then why in the middle of the ground.
“We are not against the project but the site of the project is not in the welfare of the people. Today all those gathered here share the sentiment of the protest. We are only here to appeal to our parent body (NAPO) that they will bring a mutual understanding which will be beneficial to every constituting body. This ground is very important to us and we must prevent it from vanishing”, DP said.
An elder of Kuda, Er Keneilhoulie Keditsu, said “This issue is more like a family misunderstanding and sometimes children are required to correct their parents in times of certain keys decisions. Our forefathers have come up with visionary plans to help the future generations. Working women hostel is a requirement and we are not against it but there may have been some communication gap when the project started. If we approach them (NAPO) maybe they’ll understand the significance of the ground for the people of the colony.”
Former bureaucrat, Vihielie Sekhose, said “Our former leaders have kept this land for public gathering and other important and mega events. This is purely a legal matter because some people take law into their hands and we can do the same but we must take the issue to the law. This is a public land and like every village and region there are public lands which are managed by the public and public leaders cannot turn it into their whims and wishes when they are in power.”
Chairperson of the protest rally, Luola-o Usou, in his summing up said CNAKU will send another memorandum to NAPO appealing the latter to relocate the project to another site.
