Coordination Committee of tribe hohos, civil society organisations, various committees and mass-based organisations under aegis of Nagaland GB Federation (NGBF) Friday informed that the state-wide from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. (10 hours) on February 11 will be imposed as scheduled.
In a press note, the committee explained that the bandh had been called to protest the planned passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in Rajya Sabha, which it termed as “unconstitutional and against the sentiment” of the people of Northeast. The bandh has also been called to attract the attention of the Centre towards the seven-decade-old Naga issue. The committee has therefore appealed to “all-right thinking” Nagas to observe the bandh whole-heartedly and peacefully.
Claiming that CAB would strike at the very heart of indigenous people’s existence, the committee said it was imperative that all concerned Nagas should welcome the bandh to show “our deep resentment” to the Central government, that our right to existence cannot be toyed with”.
Urging all tribe hohos to take responsibility of their own districts, the committee said media personnel, medical and emergency services, police, district administration officials, army, paramilitary forces, students and teachers on examination, train and flight passengers, pre-arranged programmes like weddings, etc, have been exempted from the purview of the bandh.
It added that members of NSCN (I-M) attending their National Hoho from February 11 were also exempted from the purview of the bandh. It said respective tribe hohos were free to implement their own modalities in ensuring the bandh in their respective areas.
According to the committee, the message of the bandh to the Central government and successful expression of solidarity to “our North-eastern brethren” lay with the respective tribe hohos of 11 districts and two sub-divisions of Tseminyu and Meluri. It requested Naga Council, Dimapur to oversee enforcement of the bandh in Dimapur district with its 19 federating tribal units. The committee further urged the Naga people to respond to the call of Nagaland Joint Christian Forum for prayer and fasting on February 10 for resolution of the Naga political issue.
Meanwhile, the committee has expressed its gratitude to all those who participated in the public march to Raj Bhavan in Kohima on Friday.