Rejoinder to NTC and ENPO on Rongmei recognition

I am compelled to clarify the statement reflected by NTC and ENPO in one of the local papers under the caption; Tribe Recognition: NTC, ENPO reiterate stand. It is morally obliged to state the true intention and understanding of the Gauhati Court in matter of Rongmei recognition as per the Court reply order No  W.P.(C) No.95/99  and W.P. (c) No.137(K)/2001 to avoid any further misconstruing, wrong perception and any further undesirable complication that may scale up to provoke tribal contention in the stateThe reason that, the Guahaiti high court  could not by-pass the constitution of India in matter of recognizing a tribe to be scheduled tribe in a state without the presidential order as per the constitution of India art.342. The Court misconstrued the demand of the Rongmei Council Nagaland  to have been pleading for enlisting of the Rongmei Tribe along with/in the   five  scheduled tribe list recognized and enlisted in the state of Nagaland; eg. Naga, Kuki, Kachari, Mikir, Garo. The Govt. of Nagaland stated that, “the question of tribe within the tribe does not arise.” It mean, under Naga scheduled tribe all the Nagas in the state of Nagaland is inclusive.   The  Court order; “ the affidavit also shows that there is no proposal at hand to accord scheduled tribe status to the Rongmei Community residing in the state of Nagaland.” Here it mean the five scheduled tribes list of the state of Nagaland.  Further, the court order. para, 23; “ Therefore, taking the stand of the state government into consideration  and keeping in mind the law laid down by the apex Court as quoted above, this court is of the opinion that the court cannot add Rongmei Community  as a scheduled tribe  to the presidential order when there is no specific provision to that effect in the presidential order. The Rongmei Community, therefore is not a scheduled tribe in the state of Nagaland.”  Para. 24. “for the aforesaid reasons I find no merit in this petition and accordingly it is dismissed.” Here the intent and understanding of the court order is made cleared and it( the court order status)   does not apply to the demand of the Rongmei Council for inclusion of Rongmei in the state under NAGA tribe in the state of Nagaland.  After the dismissal of the first writ petition, another petition was filed to the higher court (double bench) for redress. The court has directed the Rongmei Council to take up the matter to the civil authority.  Accordingly the matter was then put up to the Govt. of Nagaland for political decision and settlement.

The Govt. of Nagaland clearly understood the subject matter of scheduled tribes in the state of Nagaland; as reflected in the govt. letter to the Rongmei Council Nagaland. Ref.  The Govt. of  Nagaland. Home department vide No. HOME/CL/3/81 dated. The 22nd January 1982. “That the Rongmei residing in Nagaland state belong, to the scheduled tribe(any Naga Tribe) and they are entitled to all benefits as enjoyed by other scheduled tribes and to the question of tribe within a tribe does not arise”  As per Govt.  Notification No. HOME/SCTA-6/2007(PTI).

“In pursuance to the decision of the Cabinet Meeting held on 23rd July 2012, the Governor of Nagaland is pleased to recognize Rongmei as one of the Naga tribes”. Here the Governor did not define the Rongmei as a separate scheduled Tribe of the state. Nevertheless, the Govt. of India has recognized the Rongmei of Manipur, but then, the Rongmei of Nagaland do not claim it.While asserting the right of the Rongmei Naga of Nagaland whose recognition/enlistment in the tribe list was left out since the attainment of the statehood out of ignorant induced by deception meted to Rongmei in the guise of/pretext of being already registered/enlisted as Zeliangrong in the list under Naga Tribe. The justly approach for enlisting the Rongmei Tribe under the tribe list of “Naga” in the  state of Nagaland was delayed, ignored and refused for many years.

It is observed that, some govt. Govt. officials of Nagaland attempted to twist and temper the law and order to suit to the whim and rhyme of some few Naga publics leaders without considering the morality, conscience and the truth of humanity. The fact that there are no criteria of the Govt. to classify between the inhabitants and Naga tribe status of Nagaland. All the five enlisted scheduled tribes in the state maintain their tribal status as indigenous without complaint from any quarter. Why denying only to Rongmei who are qualified and deserved to be enlisted under the Naga tribe? It may be referred to the scheduled order 1950 of Manipur, wherein a few residents belonging to Angami and Sema have been separately enlisted and recognized as scheduled tribes. What disturb the minds of the Nagas? Illusory fear or apprehensive mentality about the tribe should never be the guiding principle of the people. There is no ground or reason that only those tribes, which have their own territory in the state, should be entitled the Naga tribal status.  The Rongmei also has their landed properties, villages, duly recognized by the state Govt. of Nagaland even though they do not have a separate territory of their own.  

I therefore appealed and urged the concerned organization that, enlisting the Rongmei of Nagaland would not harm or hamper in any respect or aspect, rather it  enhance the pride, the scope, the progress and create a conducive environment for all the Nagas to live and prosper together as one people.  I believe this art will served to be a source of understanding and pave the way to avoid needless confusion.