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NTC advisor Dr. Hokishe Yepthomi, second from right, and others seen at the 4th anniversary and general council session of the NTC at the IRCSN conference hall in Kohima on October 12. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 12 (EMN): Senior advisor of the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC), Dr. Hokishe Yepthomi has urged the members of the NTC to keep contributing for the greater interest of the Nagas of Nagaland in order to make a ‘new Nagaland’.
This he said while addressing the 4th anniversary-cum-general council session of the NTC at the conference hall of IRCSN, Kohima on Thursday.
Dr. Yepthomi, while lauding the efforts and contributions of the NTC since inception four years ago, urged the council members to deliver ‘something good’ for the Naga people.
Stating that NTC was formed with the objective of bringing ‘some changes’ in the society, he shared with optimism that the political system and social life in Nagaland will change under NTC’s leadership.
“Though you are silent your deeds speak louder. Let us not only think, but let us act too,” Yepthomi urged maintaining that NTC is for the interest of all Naga people, particularly the Nagas of Nagaland.
Speaking at the occasion, adviser of NTC Zhovehu Lohe also reiterated that the council belongs to the Nagas of Nagaland, and not only to those few managing its affairs.
Lohe also reminded the gathering that NTC has been “designed to be a home of altruism” with the attempt to pursue those issues of common interest only.
“NTC neither keeps room to accommodate isms, nor are there chairs for those who have personal agenda to sit. It is relevant to introspect our success and failures. Let us be conscious of overestimating ourselves while branding others to be imperfect. When we forget our shortcomings, the failure has arrived,” Lohe asserted.
“Tougher challenges are going to waylay us in the days to come. Those challenges are going to be beyond our manageability lest we humble ourselves before God and seek his blessings,” he stated.
Touching on Rongmei’s recognition issue, Lohe also extended his gratefulness to the former Chief Minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu for revoking the recognition in early part of this year.
“Had not the NTC protested against the recognition of Rongmei as an indigenous tribe of Nagaland, more tribes of such category would have intruded into Nagaland? Our protest did not face futility,” he maintained.
On the issue of ‘illegal immigrants’, Lohe brought to light that the issue is an ‘immense threat to our very existence’, and sought the attention of the members on how to handle this ‘menace and its danger’.
“NTC can no longer remain an onlooker and allow the menace to develop beyond the manageability hereafter. Nevertheless, we have to address the issue meticulously,” he said.
Lohe recalled the efforts of the NTC managing to bring six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) under a common platform which is now called as “Working Committee”.
On the issue of removal of parliamentary secretaries and advisors, he clarified that Nagaland state is entitled to have just 12 cabinet ministers, adding that 35 additional MLAs have been holding offices of profit at the expense of the common man.
“In order to force democracy to function in Nagaland, NTC through its committee filed PIL for removal of all ultra vires posts at HC Kohima, which was transferred to principal bench at Guwahati. Hopefully, hearing will take place after the expiry of six weeks, i.e, by middle of November 2017. When judgment comes, it is expected to have positive impact on austerity measure,” he remarked.
While stating that there is a huge trust deficit among the Nagas, president of the Ao Senden Imliyanger Jamir has urged the NTC to play a pivotal role to bring the Naga people together.
“There is trust deficit everywhere. Building bridges is the need of the hour and NTC has to play the role to build bridges,” Jamir said while speaking at the 4th anniversary celebration of NTC.
He also lauded the NTC for its contribution and achievements during the last four years.
Pointing out that many organisations in the state has been formed with selfish motives, the vice-president of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), Kekongchim said that this has been the reason why unity of the Naga society is fading away.
“There is confusion everywhere. Therefore, the time has come for the Nagas to speak out our rights,” he said and urged every section of the Naga society to come forward with positive ideas, instead of pointing fingers at others all the time.
The ENPO vice president also went on to mention that “the attitude of dominance and feeling of superiority is destroying the fabric of the Naga society.”
“Though we represent different organisations, we have a common goal,” he said and called upon all sections of Naga society to come together. To this, he stated that the formation of ENPO shouldn’t be termed as ‘anti-Naga’, but clarified that it was formed solely to uplift and look into the welfare of the eastern Nagaland people.
Legal advisor of Acaut (Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation) Kezhokhoto Savi made a clarion call to stakeholders concerned to stop issuing scheduled tribe and scheduled cast certificates to non-Nagas, and further urged the state government to seriously tackle this ‘menace which is growing up to be a threat to the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.’
“There is huge danger if the govt. randomly issue ST and ST certificates to non-Nagas,” Savi said and called upon all concerned to step forward “to protect the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.”
On the day, representatives from Nagaland Senior Citizens’ Forum, Lotha Hoho and Nagaland Indigenous Peoples Forum also shared the stage.