Dimapur, September 2 : The Ao Senden has asked the Nagaland government to amend the Nagaland Municipal Act; unless it does, the municipal elections for Mokokchung would be barred. The organization issued a note on Friday.
Considering “the bitter contents” of the Act, the note stated, the Ao Senden convened a meeting of stakeholders on September 2 at Ongpangkong Salang in Mokokchung town to deliberate on the issue.
The organization “finally resolved to stand by its earlier stand that unless the state govt. re-amend the contents of the said act, which is detrimental to the culture and customs of the Ao people, the Ao’s will not allow to conduct the said election in the name of development,” the note stated.
The organization stated that the Nagaland government’s attempts to implement the Nagaland Municipal election were “totally in contradiction to the customs and culture of Aos and Nagas in general.”
“And, with understanding the said Act, the remaining other tribes and districts of Nagaland had debarred the town and municipal election for the last five years. As of now, the state govt. is contemplating to implement the said Act by conducting election and for which there are various acceptance voices from different corners and organisation.”
The organization resolved to pressurise the Nagaland government to “re-amend and redress” the said act which it said was “totally against the interest of the people as laws / acts are meant for the people.”
Using the power to legislate and amend, the Senden stated, the government can “easily re-amend the said article which is very contradictory and anti-people.”
“The meeting, further lamented on the non-sincerity of the elected members for simply legislating the said act against the aspirations of the people,” the press release added.
