Morung Express News
Kohima | March 24
“Was there no better way to express resentment or grievances other than breaking people houses, burning down government buildings and properties? The extent of words and languages used, dehumanising individuals as anti people or anti Naga was totally unbecoming for a civilised society,” said Vikheho Swu, Minister for Roads and Bridges during the Assembly session putting forward a diverse perspective in the aftermath of the ULB imbroglio.
Expressing dilemma over the actions of the agitators, Swu wondered if agitators followed true Naga culture and practices by ex-communicating people of their own community, locking people’s houses, ‘forcing out infants, children, aged people out of the house leaving them to the mercy of the chilling winter’.
“We cannot but stand in utter dismay, when respected Naga tribe organization went encouraging Naga youths to consume alcohol so as to aid them in achieving their demand. This is really not a Naga culture and unbecoming of a professed Christian state. False rumours on taxation were used to win support. It was also learned that Church platforms were used to mislead people in believing that they would be taxed on everything even including collecting wild herbs and leaves from the forest,” claimed Swu, pointing out that the government’s good intention to protect Art. 371(A) was thoroughly misunderstood.
Predicating upon the fact that the issue of women reservation cannot be ignored, Swu posited that women reservation is the only way for women to be encouraged to join mainstream politics. “This push is required for acceptance of women in policy making as well as for the women themselves to grow in confidence to work at par with man in this somewhat unexplored domain for our Naga women. Neglect of the rights of women is recognised as a violation of human rights and in a civilised society there should be no room for discrimination on the basis of gender,” said Swu
“We have inflicted deep wounds, harmed one another, pained one another. The process of healing must take place before we take up the ULB issue once again,” lamented, Swu who therefore urged the government to reach out to the people, encourage the tribes and organizations “who initially stood with the government even to the extent of issuing press releases in support of the government but went against their words, to come forward once again to build trust, relationship and understanding.”
He further urged the government, which includes government offices and government servants apart from the Legislators to join the mission in restoring back normalcy in the state.
