Minister for urban development & higher education Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu formally inaugurated the new R.D Block Chunlikha on Tuesday amidst protest and attempt to sabotage by the villagers.
In his address after unveiling the foundation stone, Dr. Shurhozelie told the gathering that the new RD Block was for the benefit of the people of the block which covers 13 villages.
While reminding on various developments brought about under Tseminyu sub-division under the DAN government, he assured that the demand for EAC headquarter by people of the area was also under active consideration of the government.
Earlier, MLA and parliamentary secretary for horticulture R. Khing who was the guest of honour in his address termed the occasion as a historic day, and on behalf of Rengmas thanked DAN government for giving all the developments.
Indirectly referring to the protesting villagers, he said it was unfortunate that a few people who wanted to pocket for themselves in the name of development were challenging the entire Rengmas and stressed the need for change of mindset among the people and instead show love and gratitude to who ever are the giver.
“We are like ungrateful creature who doesn’t like to thank whoever gives us but keep on demanding one after another. Therefore, we should also give back whatever we can to the giver”, he added.
He also reminded the chief guest and minister for urban development and higher education on the need for a separate EAC Headquarter for the area and expressed hope that the minister who is also the president of NPF party will take up the matter with the state chief minister for necessary action. As per 2011 census, the population of Tseminyu is more than 60,000 and one block cannot look after, he added.
Rengma Hoho President Kegwani Lorin who also spoke on the occasion termed the day as a red letter day and said the Rengmas look forward to the initiatives of the state government in bringing development in the sub-division.
“Our vision for tomorrow should not be a stumbling block due to by our narrow political differences”, he added.
Project Director, DRDA who also spoke on the occasion termed the occasion as a big achievement and said the government’s policy is to bring development at the doorstep of the people as the department has been implementing various government schemes and project.
Earlier, the convoy of the chief guest and guest of honour were received by the villagers carrying black flags and placards protesting the inauguration of the new RD Block.
Controversy cropped up ever since the present site was selected to house the new R D Block Chunlikha, for which the villagers resorted to vandalism on Tuesday night destroying the foundation stone.
The situation turned ugly when both the youth and police resorted to blank firing.
The opposing group then resorted to felling big trees at least at three places to block NH-61. Talking to media persons later, MLA and parliamentary secretary R. Khing blamed the NCP and Congress supporters for sabotaging the inaugural function.
However, chairman of Chunlikha village council Zukeya Woch while talking to Nagaland Post denied saying there was no political connection in the protest but the villagers were protesting on forcible imposition of site selection as the meeting of the block held on February 24 failed to come to a consensus on site selection.
It may be mentioned that RD Block Chunlikha covers 13 villages from three ranges of Rengma tribe which includes Tesophenyu group comprising of four villages, Chunlikha group consisting of three villages and Kandinu group comprising of 6 villages.
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