Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, JUNE 29
THE Nagaland Foot Hill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) will go ahead with its decision to impose a 12-hour bandh, starting 6 am till 6 pm on Monday, in the commercial hub of Dimapur and Chumukedima.
In a meeting held here today, the NFHRCC along with “volunteer leaders and professionals (lawyers and doctors) thoroughly discussed the proposed bandh and unanimously resolved that under no circumstances the Committee will backtrack.” Hundreds of youth volunteers, from the 10 constituent tribes of NFHRCC, have been detailed to enforce the bandh.
Addressing the press after the meeting, NFHRCC officials also sought to explain the reason(s) behind its decision to call for a Dimapur bandh. On June 28 last meeting with the Cabinet Sub-Committee, according to the NFHRCC, both the parties involved had shared their views, facts and circumstances.
“Consequently, the department concerned represented by the Commissioner and Secretary and the Chief Engineer, admitted that they had made a mistake by way of issuing work order through table tender, stating that there are existing rules and regulations for inviting NIT.
“Thereon, the Committee asked the department ‘was there no rules and regulations when 70% of the jeepable road was done through table tender? Unfortunately, the department concerned failed to give any befitting reply. Therefore the Committee prayed before the CSC to pass the reason order. However, the CSC failed to give the same.”
This forced the NFHRCC members, with no options left, to walk out of the meeting called by the CSC, the Committee members said.
“In the course of discussion, the Committee stood firm that in the event of failure on the part of the department to cancel the work order issued through NIT, the Committee will uphold the decision to go for the proposed bandh. Interestingly, the Commissioner and Secretary, Temjen Toy, challenged the Committee by saying that the department will never cancel the work order even if the Committee impose bandh even for 100 times,” the NFHRCC officials said.
Thus, the Committee said, it is very clear that the NFHRCC had called for the bandh “on the advice and directive of the Commissioner and Secretary, Temjen Toy.” As such, in the event of any “unwanted eventuality” the Committee would not be held responsible.
The NFHRCC officials also sought to clarify on the reasons behind the tussle between the Committee and the department concerned.
It said that the Chief Engineer (R&B) had given the construction of a jeepable road for the whole stretch of the foothill road, from Dimapur to Tizit, to the NFHRCC which was subsequently endorsed by the Minister concerned.
“In the meantime the department expressed that there is no money in the state exchequer. Therefore, the Committee was proposed to seek competent contractors who can take up the project on credit. It is also an admitted fact that it is the department concerned who had proposed the Committee to approach M/s Nagaland Steel Engineering Works (Yashitsungba Aier).”
Consequently, work order for a portion of Mokokchung sector was issued to the said firm. “In the meantime, on March 6, 2013, the R&B Minister along with the Chief Engineer went for inspection, and fully satisfied with the construction, insisted upon the firm to execute the construction without even a work order.
“Accordingly, construction was started on the request of the department concerned. While actively doing the same, to utter surprise, the work order was issued to some other firm/contractors,” it said. Such activities of the department, and its subsequent refusal to comply with the NFHRCC ultimatum, had forced the latter to take the extreme step of imposing bandh in Dimapur.
On the news item carried by one local newspaper, in which four tribe hohos were reported asking the NFHRCC to call off the bandh, it said that the all the tribe hohos – including the four mentioned in the report – based in Dimapur had “actively participated” in the meeting today and “fully assured the NFHRCC not to be swept away by the news item.”
DISTRICT Magistrate, Dimapur N. Hushili Sema today has issued an order disallowing the bandh called by Nagaland Foothills Road Co-ordination Committee (NFHRCC) in Dimapur on June 30 in the interest of the general public. The order will come into effect from 5 am till 7 pm of June 30.
The District Magistrate’s order comes in pursuance of the government order dated 28th June’14 to disallow the bandh called by NFHRCC.
Any person/persons or any group of persons found to be violating this order/trying to forcefully impose the bandh shall be seriously dealt with which may even lead to his arrest/detention by any order of the Magistrate on duty authorized by the District Magistrate as per provisions of law, the order said.
TUD, Western Chakhesang Hoho, CAKU, Mao Hoho, Pochury Hoho, Poumai Hoho, Zeliang Hoho, Inpui Hoho, Rongmei Council, Rengma Hoho and Maram Hoho have written to DC Dimapur expressing strong opposition to the NFHRCC called Dimapur bandh.
“We strongly oppose the proposed bandh and, at any cost, the proposed bandh should be thwarted by the Government with an iron hand and for which we are also ready to render our fullest support,” the 11 organisations conveyed in a joint letter to the DC.
They have also earnestly requested the DC to ensure that the proposed bandh does not take place.
“As a preventive measure, the Government may immediately arrest and put behind the bars all the leaders who are trying to disturb peace and tranquility in Dimapur by forcibly imposing such bandhs,” they stated while urging the government to immediately stop the construction activities of the Nagaland Foothill Road until the issues are resolved.
In the joint letter to the DC today, the 11 organisations said they had been closely observing the recent turn of events in regard to the Nagaland Foothill Road construction which, in their considered opinion, is going awry and towards the wrong directions with the decision of the NFHRCC to go ahead with the 12-hours Dimapur bandh.
“It’s not just that bandhs are alien to our culture and tradition but it is a crime against humanity. Looking at the ground realities in Dimapur, we cannot just allow few groups of people to turn it into a battlefield or a playground at the cost of the majority,” the letter said.
The organisations also said there are other legal means and avenues to get remedy for any injustice or grievance.
“So far as the foothill road is concerned, it is being constructed by the State Government and, on completion, it will be used by everybody and not just by the repeatedly mentioned 10 (Ten) tribes alone,” the letter stated.
The organizations opined that Dimapur and its innocent citizens should not be made to suffer for any issue arising out of the Nagaland Foothill Road construction. “There cannot be any justification for imposing a bandh in Dimapur,” they said stating that it is highly objectionable for an NGO to resort to dictating terms, especially on the government.
The joint letter was appended by TUD president Khalo Kapfo, general secretary Zhasa Vupru and adviser TL Angami, Western Chakhesang Hoho president Vekhosayi Nyekha, CAKU president Abou Sote, Mao Hoho president K Lokho, Pochury Hoho president Soutsutho, Poumai Hoho president MK Joseph, Zeliang Hoho president Heikim Meru, Inpui Hoho president Charingambou, Rongmei Council president Thaban Rongmei, Rengma Hoho president P Keppen and Maram Hoho president Ng. Phuba James.
DIPHUPAR Village Council, in an emergency meeting today, discussed the matter pertaining to the NFHRCC called Dimapur bandh and unanimously resolved not to allow imposition of the bandh within the jurisdiction of Diphupar village. It also extended its full support to the district administration to disallow the bandh. This was stated in a release issued by Diphupar Village Council chairman Vitoshe Kinimi and secretary Lanutoshi.
NFP Youth Wing Nagaland said it is prepared to boycott the NFHRCC bandh in Dimapur saying it is totally against the culture of the Nagas. It said the bandh has been called by the NFHRCC just to punish the citizens of Dimapur for not getting their selfish demand on contract works fulfilled. The Media Cell of NFP Youth Wing, in a statement today, said it is crystal clear that the sole intention of the NFHRCC is to award contract work to their favorite contractors through backdoor, which the NPF youth are totally against. The statement said NPF youth wing, comprising not only 10 tribes but more than 20 tribes, would rather support the NPWD/government for inviting NIT and floating open tender while also congratulating the government for courageously exhibiting and upholding the democratic principles.
Further, the NPF Youth Wing questioned the NFHRCC that if they are not satisfied with the government/NPWD action, why they did not go to the court for redressal of their grievances and why they are imposing the bandh.The NPF youth Wing also appealed to the general public to cooperate with it to defy the bandh.
