Sad to examine the mindset of CM on Zbto rally: NTC
Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) reacted strongly to chief minister T.R. Zeliang for commenting that the NTC rally on Nagaland Special Development Zone (NSDZ) in Zunheboto on Tuesday was a “meaningless exercise”.
NTC media cell said it was “amusing at first glance but sad to examine the mindset of no other than the chief minister of Nagaland” who considered such democratic exercises for molding public opinion on such a crucial issue of far reaching consequences as “meaningless exercise”.
NTC therefore posed the following questions on chief minister: (1) whether Rongmei recognition and NSDZ issues are meaningless; (2) Was the Zunheboto rally meaningless; (3) Was the initiative of NTC and the logical response from the citizens of Zunheboto town meaningless; (4) What kind of benefit Rongmei recognition as a tribe of Nagaland, offered to Nagas of Nagaland and (5) Is NSDZ for development or for accommodation of outsiders to a small state like Nagaland and whether the chief minister stands for the Nagas of Nagaland or outsiders?
NTC said it was always prepared for any discussion, consultation or debate on issues of common interest under any banner, since it has no inhibition and prepared to attend the consultative meet if “invited officially”.
The council also said it would continue to endeavor to reach out to all sections to sensitise the people of any issue affecting them.
NTC however said the approach of the state government “to stab the citizens from behind” was disheartening and pointed to the recognition of Rongmei tribe case as an indigenous tribe of Nagaland, when the state government ignored the recommendation of the committee it quietly formed.
Nagaland Tribes Council said the state government then took a political decision on the “advice of an officer together with Naga Hoho’s recommendation for and on behalf of the Nagas of Nagaland”.
NTC said the state government had kept the people and stake holders in the dark over the issue till it published the notification after receiving the Governor’s assent.
On the Nagaland Special Development Zone, the council said that the concept paper was approved by the cabinet and circulated to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs)of Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha and Dimapur on January 6, 2014 with instructions to negotiate with civil societies for identification of the area to be brought under NSDZ.
The council further said that ‘No Objection Certificates’ were obtained from the villagers and the resolution for Nagaland Special Development Zone adopted by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on March 24, 2014.
NTC said subsequently the chief minister placed budgetary provisions for NSDZ in the last budget session.
Most unfortunately, NTC said, the chief minister was trying to play down the importance of the state assembly resolution “as if no final decision has been taken as yet”.
NTC said the NSDZs would have been “smoothly and quietly implemented with silent approval of the civil societies in the same manner of Rongmei tribe recognition”.
However, unfortunately for the government, NTC said this time, it brought the matter on public domain after which various organizations, intellectuals and stake holders expressed objection to “ this infamous decision”.
At this juncture, NTC said the government’s attempt for consultations with civil societies and people was “rather amusing”.
Nagaland Tribes Council said it despises the methodology of the present state government of consulting “its own coteries to hijack people’s endorsement” on major issues and thus put the entire citizens of Nagaland in total jeopardy.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Tribes Council has vowed to take the people and sons of the soil on board “to fight all the sinister designs of people in power, till the wishes of the people are fulfilled”.
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