Changlang, September 13 (MExN): The Tirap, Changlang and Longding People’s Forum (TCLPeF) has condemned the attempt made by some people to delete the word "Naga" which is suffixed as "Any Naga" in the Scheduled Tribe certificate issued to the Nagas of Tirap, Changlang and Longding district. In a press statement issued by its President, the Forum alleged that the attempt was led by its Members of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha from East Parliamentary Constituency. An emergency meeting on September 8 and a central committee meeting was earlier convened on September 12 at Changlang headquarter to deliberate on the issue, it said. The forum reprimanded the attempt stating that the MP who represents the people from East Parliamentary Constituency is ignorant about the history, culture, pride and the sentiments of the Nagas of Tirap, Changlang and Longding district. It further clarified that “Naga or Na-Kha is a combination of two words Na and Kha. Na means ear and Kha means pierce or hole. It is mandatory for all the Nagas across the length and breadth of the Nagas area to pierce their ear by both male and female and this has been practiced since time immemorial.” The release also stated that “the Tai-Ahom King Chaolung Su-Ka-pha who set out for an expedition in search of new land and established his own kingdom from Mong Mao in 1228 AD now in Yunan Province of China passed through the Patkai hills and reached the plain of Brahmaputra valley and established his kingdom with its capital at Charadeo now in Sibsagar district Assam. “While crossing the Patkai Hills they faced a fierce encounter in the hands of the Nagas. These encounters with Nagas are recorded in the Assam Buranji (history) 1112-1124 AD and there are more than 299 references given by the writers. Even to this day any visitors from TCL to Assam are called as "Noga Manu" meaning Naga People,” the release iterated. The forum, through the release, therefore, “unanimously resolved to oppose against any individual or entity trying to distort their history, culture, tradition and custom for cheap political gain.” “Any confusion, discrepancy arising out of "Any Naga Tribe" should be replaced by recognising the Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh as Tangsa Naga, Nocte Naga, Wancho Naga, Tutsa Naga and Ollo Naga,” the release said. The forum further appealed “all elected representatives of Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts to move the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GOI and apprise them of the facts and figure before it is too late.”
