Staff Reporter
Dimapur, July 24
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]aga brethrens in the four districts of Tuensang ,Mon, Longleng and Kiphire responded to a bandh call by the Eastern Nagaland People Organisation (ENPO) on Wednesday. Their demand is for the creation of a Frontier Nagaland i.e a separate state of Eastern Nagaland comprising the above four mentioned districts and for bi-lateral talks between the Government of India and the ENPO to this end,
Braving inclement weather supporters of the demand turned up to hold public rallies in all the four district headquarters which passed off peacefully. The rally was organised by ENPO to ascertain the mood of the people on the issue of a “separate statehood”. The organisation had earlier rejected overtures for a tripartite talk on the subject and also the option of an Autonomous Council by the state government. ENPO leaders maintain that it is always better for concerned parties (in this case the ENPO and the centre) to address the issue instead of involving a middleman (i.e the state government).
They argue that the status of an Autonomous Council is one they have experienced 48 years ago, as an un administered area known as the North East Frontier Agency and then the Naga Hills Tuensang Area.
The ENPO treasurer Khaming Khiamniungan addressing the rally in Mon was critical of the apathy of successive state government’s towards the plight of the districts in eastern Nagaland. He simultaneously appealed to various political parties and frontal organisations against politicising the issue.
He clarified that that the demand of the Naga national workers for sovereignty and the demand of the ENPO for separate Statehood are two different issues.
In this regards, he asked the public not to confuse the demand for sovereignty and statehood. He said an understanding was established with the national workers prior to the movement for a separate Statehood.
Others who spoke at the rally included former MLA Kongngam, former KU president Khoiwang, representatives of KNSK, KSU, ENSF, Konyak Villages Council, VDB Association, Mon GBs’ Association and district presidents of NPF, INC and BJP.
All the speakers urged the ENPO leaders and the public to stand in unity for the cause till it is achieved. The sentiment of negligence by various government sectors in the four districts was a common refrain in the public address.
In the district headquarters in Tuensang ENPO president Chingmak Chang, CKS president Shitomong, former CKS president, CTS president, GTS presidents,
NSF president, and other public leaders addressed the gathering.
The district headquarters at Longleng also experienced a total bandh .
Here officials of the ENPO, ENSF, PPC, PBCA, public leaders and students attended the rally. Speakers included ENPO committee member Hoka Konyak, ENPO Joint secretary C Manlang Phom, ENSF joint secretary Chuba Chang, PPC president H Leisha, and PBCA executive secretary Y Nuklu.
It was learned that a similar rally was also observed in Kiphire district headquarters.
[tabs type="horizontal"][tabs_head][tab_title]Bandh call in Naga brethrens responds[/tab_title][/tabs_head][tab]Naga brethrens in Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire respond to a bandh call[/tab][/tabs]
