Malice behind PIL for protection of non-Nagas in Dimapur, says Naga Hoho

Dimapur, June 24 (EMN): The Naga Hoho has expressed astonishment over the report that Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a BJP leader, had filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking protection of non-Nagas, particularly in Dimapur.

In a press release issued on Monday, the Naga Hoho questioned Ashwini’s motive and wondered what prompted him to go to the extent of filing petition in the Supreme Court.

“If he has any apprehension on the ILP issue, the matter should have been addressed to the government of Nagaland or any other appropriate forum to clear his doubts rather than going to the court of law. This clearly shows that he has some malafide intention to malign the Nagas, which cannot be easily absolved. The way Mr Ashwini is painting the Nagas to the outside world with concocted allegation is, as if, Nagas are racist – this is something which we cannot tolerate,” it stated.

The Naga Hoho reminded that unlike other states in India, the present Nagaland state was created out of a political agreement “and Dimapur comes within the purview of 1963 statehood.” However, it stated, the creation of Nagaland state is not the final solution to the Naga political issue and therefore peace process and political talks between the government of India and the Naga national workers are still going on.

It urged Ashwini to withdraw the PIL without delay.

Censures Along’s statement 

The Naga Hoho also took strong exemption, once again, to the reported statement of Minister for Higher and Technical Education Temjen Imna Along at an event in Dimapur on June 23.

Along had reportedly said that “he wants to see non-Nagas in the Nagaland State Legislative Assembly” and “Nagas will stand up and live with India.”

“We wonder whether Mr. Imna Along really meant it, and knows the Naga political history and struggle or just to please his political bosses in Delhi. Of late, Mr Imna Along has been making remarks, which will have far-reaching consequences for the future Naga generation, and in such turn of event, no other but Mr. Imna Along should be solely held responsible.

“Do Nagas get opportunity to be in UP or Bihar or any other state Assembly? The Naga Hoho asks Mr. Imna Along not to finish the Naga political history and the young generation in exchange of his chair and power,” read the statement.