Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30
HOME Minister G Kaito Aye on Wednesday met ACAUT members and assured them of security cover during the October 31 Public Rally at Clock Tower junction. The Home Minister’s meeting with the ACAUT comes in the backdrop of a decision by the NSCN (IM) to “disallow” the scheduled Public Rally. Sources privy to the meeting on Wednesday said that Kaito, besides assuring security cover, had also appealed the ACAUT members not to “create situation” during the rally.
Late Wednesday evening, rumors of the deferment of the proposed rally were doing the rounds across the town. Newspaper offices in Dimapur were bombarded with calls from public wanting to confirm the rumor.
ACAUT officials dismissed the rumor and informed that the Public Awareness Rally would go ahead per schedule. “There is no backing down. We won’t turn back now,” one of the members camped at Clock Tower junction said on Wednesday evening.
Interestingly, after the twin act of sabotage by unidentified miscreants that destroyed at least 20-30 flexes/banners at Clock Tower, the ACAUT signature campaign witnessed the largest outpour of public support on Wednesday.
Through out the day, safe under the umbrella of security provided by Dimapur police, the citizens of Dimapur thronged the Clock Tower junction to append their names and signatures in support of the campaign.
“The incidents (of vandalism) turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us. The blatant audacity and act of those people has in fact motivated more people to come out and support us. People were really angry (over the acts of vandalism),” ACAUT members said on Wednesday.
Highly reliable sources have confirmed that a large number of youth from all over the districts of Nagaland have reached Dimapur to participate in the rally on October 31. “We even have people coming from outside Nagaland via train,” ACAUT sources said.
The rally, unlike other instances, would not feature lengthy and boring lectures from the “speakers.” “After the introductory address, we will simply give the participants the time to speak their mind, to anyone who wants to speak,” the source said.
Black flags in Mokokchung
MOKOKCHUNG town on Wednesday would extend solidarity and support to the ACAUT-led mass Public Rally on October 31 by way of hoisting black flags in all the business establishments across the town.
In a joint statement, the Ao Senden and the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industries today informed the “entire business establishment in Mokokchung to hoist black flags in their shop against unabated taxation in various form and to show solidarity and support to ACAUT.”
The Ao Senden also conveyed its support to the ACAUT while reiterating its September 17 mid-term general meeting resolution on the same. “The malice of unabated taxation has degraded the growth of Naga society and therefore must be uprooted,” said the President of Ao Senden, Dr Sangyu Yaden, in the press statement.
A press release from ACAUT states that the committee will stand by its 29th October resolution to hold the public awareness rally on 31st October. They have requested the general public not to be confused or deterred by the call for a ban on the rally by NSCN (IM). The government has also been urged to provide security at the site and surrounding areas.
ACAUT also stated that its 5-member team led by senior citizen Hekhevi Achumi reported its meeting with steering committee members and the ato kilonser of NSCN (IM) in the light of banning of ACAUT October 31st rally by the latter.
The deliberations of the meeting were also conveyed to ACAUT members. However, it was decided that in the light of 29th October resolution ACAUT would go ahead with the rally.
In order to facilitate smooth movement of vehicular traffic due to the traffic restrictions imposed for ACAUT rally at Clock Tower, Dimapur from 9.30 am on October 31, SP Dimapur has informed the general public that DDSC Stadium has been allotted for vehicular parking for those attending the rally. All concerned may utilize the designated parking lot so as to avoid inconveniences during the rally, the SP said in a release.
