Zeliangrong Students’ Union Delhi (ZSUD) while reacting to recent untoward events in Nagaland said that for “too long a time power politics in Nagaland has affected the larger Naga interests from gender to Naga national issue.”
In a press statement ZSUD president Mathiuchunbou Rimai, said it was time such practices were checked in the larger interest of the Naga society, the “minor tribe” and the excluded segments of the society.
The union said after closely observing the “political crisis over women reservation” in Urban Local Bodies (ULB) in the last few weeks, the union was “compelled” to issue the press statement.
ZSUD said that in the protest against women reservation, “many issues got entangled and the image of Naga society irreparably sullied.”
It claimed that the “gender issue was overshadowed by customary laws and right to self-determination dictated by power politics.” Whereas Nagas claim to be an egalitarian society without any socio-religious stratification, ZSUD said to the world outside Naga society has emerged as a “highly intolerant patriarchal community with no qualms about suppressing the rights of women in order to defend our customary laws and right to self-determination.”
Now that ULB election has been declared null and void and chief minister T.R. Zeliang resigned, ZSUD said that “gender issue” must be addressed at the earliest.
The student body also strongly opined that Naga women must be empowered with adequate representations in ULB/all public offices in consonance with local customary laws and practices.
“To build a progressive and inclusive society every man must respect Naga women’s political rights. Naga women should be given opportunities which have been denied for many generations,” stated the press release. ZSUD also expressed deep concern over the “attempt during the protests to polarize and stratify Naga society on the parameters of major tribes and minor tribes” saying that such politics defeats Naga unity, progress and the attempt to come of the problem of “tribalism”.
The student body also expressed sadness in learning that JCC and NTAC had reportedly “questioned the integrity of Zeliangrong by publicly stating that they know the existence of Zeliang but not Zeliangrong.”
In this regard, ZSUD pointed out that Zeliangrong people are represented in the Naga Hoho, Naga Students’ Federation and Naga Mothers Association and the Naga Political Groups under the banner of Zeliangrong transcending the political and territorial boundaries of colonial and post-colonial order.
Stating that the benefit Nagaland is entitled to at the moment is the result of collective efforts of all Nagas including Zeliangong people, ZSUD therefore said Zeliangrong people as a part of the political struggle are also stakeholders in the progress and development of the state.
The student body also expressed extreme anguish and pain over the “attack innocent Zeliangrong people living in Dimapur and targeting chief minister’s private residence and the mass violence that erupted in the name of safeguarding Naga customary laws.”
It said this “recent conspiracy” against TR Zeliang and Zeliangrong community has hurt the sentiment of the tribe living in three different States of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.
ZSUD then said that the issue in Nagaland State should have been against the government’s decision to carry on with the ULB election. However, it claimed that the unfolding of events was directed “intentionally towards one minority tribe and the leader” which it the student body termed as “extremely sad and intolerable”. The student body also expressed deep concern that “one of the most learned and respectable Naga civil societies in Delhi chose sides to also join the political games with questionable press statements undermining the integrity of their esteemed offices.”
“ZSUD is appalled at the highly political stand of the NPMHR asking the then chief minister TR Zeliang to step down during the protests,” stated the release. The student body then said that it “takes pride in the benevolence” of the then chief minister TR Zeliang for his “supreme sacrifice to step down by shouldering responsibilities and blames which are not his own”.
ZSUD said for the betterment and peace to prevail in the Naga society, T.R. Zeliang had to be crucified to “save the image of Nagaland state in particular and Naga nation in general.”
Further, the student body prayed that such incident does not occur again and that the government and civil society exhibit maturity in spirits and actions.
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