Says 6 am to 6 pm shutdown will continue from today till February 1
Dimapur, Jan. 27: Contrasting interpretation of the perceived consequences of elections to urban local bodies with 33% seat reservation for women candidates in Nagaland have put the state government and the apex Naga tribe hohos on the path to a full-on collision.
On Friday evening, the State cabinet decided not to defer the elections to urban local bodies – in a rebuff to calls from almost all the leading tribe hohos who had repeatedly asked the state government to postpone the elections. By refusing to heed to the call of the tribe hohos, the state cabinet had – knowingly or unknowingly – has ended up taking the two opposing parties down the road of confrontation.
The tribe hohos, represented by Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), had already announced that it would impose a state-wide bandh from January 27. This, however, was postponed to January 28 at the request of chief minister TR Zeliang. The JCC members had agreed to postpone the bandh by a day, after making it clear that the ball was in the court of the state government.
After learning of the State cabinet’s decision to go ahead with the elections to urban local bodies, the JCC members called a press conference late Friday night where they announced their decision to impose 6 am to 6 pm bandh from January 28 to February 1 in Dimapur.
As per the government schedule, polling for the elections to urban local bodies would be conducted on February 1 next. The JCC has mobilised thousands of youth volunteers to ensure that polling is prevented on that day.
During the press conference, JCC officials told reporters that the bandh would not be in effect on Sunday (January 29). But the imposition of 6 am to 6 pm bandh would commence from Monday (January 30) and continue till February 1.
The bandh will be total in nature, with restriction on movement of vehicles as well as pedestrians. Exemptions have been made for students, weddings, funerals, exams/interviews, patients and their attendants, para-military personnel, administrative officials and the press. Pharmacies and hospitals will also be allowed to open.
The JCC officials also told reporters that 16 Sumi candidates for Dimapur Municipal Council have forfeited their candidatures on Friday. Aside from the Sumi candidates, 4 Lotha candidates and 3 Ao candidates also forfeited their candidatures to DMC, it was informed.
