Dimapur, April 19 (EMN): The Nagaland Congress has accused the Indigenous minority tribes of Nagaland (IMTN) of ‘overreacting’ to its statement regarding what it said was excessive number of “non-local” employees in the state’s police force.
The party issued a press release on Wednesday stating: “The contribution, participation and sacrifice rendered by member tribes of IMTN towards the cause of Naga movement and formation of statehood is unquestionable and on this matter they stand on same footing with Naga brethren in the state as much today as it was yesterday. In a way they do have more say in the affairs of the state than some Naga tribes settled outside the state. NLC duly acknowledges these years tested partnership.” The party’s media cell listed three reasons, while trying to present its point of view. “It must be admitted that there are non-locals who are non-tribal non-Naga; secondly there are non-Naga who are locals; thirdly there are non-local Naga and finally the local Naga. The problem here is that non locals are given excessive appointment, the voice of others is least heard and the voice of local Naga is unheard.
“Secondly, only for comparative reason within few communities including non local Naga, Kuki tribe is mentioned as one having more employees in police department. In fact their number is more than some local Naga tribes but NLC is not questioning their size of employment. Here Kuki’s number of employment is not the issue; rather their problem is part of the larger issue.
“Thirdly, alleging that NLC is ‘distorting facts and history to gain cheap political mileage for their political goals while attacking the present government’ is potentially reactive and purely political. NLC is not disputing the indigenous status of IMTN and as stated earlier that is not the issue here. If IMTN feels that alarming appointment of non locals and under/unqualified candidates is a cheap political mileage and does not merit questioning present government, the matter is then best left to the citizens to judge whether NLC is politicising the issue or IMTN is emerging as the mouthpiece of the government” it stated.
According to the statement, ‘building up a non issue to cover a burning issue is rather cheap politics.’ “Just as IMTN is felt threatened by sense of discrimination and alienation, there are likewise tribes of educated unemployed, backward, discriminated & alienated everywhere in the state. So instead of pulling down each other in order to rise up we should rather join hands to undo what is wrong and rebuild the system, leadership and governance”, the party stated.
