Dimapur, Feb. 11 : The Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) has declared the ongoing agitations against conducting the municipal elections with 33% reservation for women as “political from the very beginning” for which “respected tribal organisations’ social movement has been hijacked by elements with political agenda.”
The media wing of the regional party issued a press release on Saturday, also criticizing one of the leaders of the civil groups spearheading the protests.
“It appears that elections to the ULBs and 33% reservation for women were never the issue as initially claimed and propounded by the agitating groups, but the intention of the agitation was political from the very beginning,” the NPF press release asserted.
“It is lamentable that respected tribal organisations’ social movement has been hijacked by elements with political agenda; and Johnny-come-lately Committees beginning to supersede these tribal organisations.”Here, the NPF criticied Supu Jamir, the convenor of the Joint Co-ordination Committee. “Documents don’t lie, Mr Supu Jamir. Mr Supu Jamir, the convenor of the Joint Co-ordination Committee spearheading the on-going agitation, should spell out what exactly he meant when he said the honourable Home Minister Y Patton’s statement was a ‘blatant lie’ when he, Mr Patton, had merely quoted the ‘January 30th Statement,’” the NPF stated.
Instead of resorting “to fancy phrases and playing around with words,” stated the press release, “he should confine himself to a simple yes or no and point out if the ‘January 30th Statement’ produced verbatim in the Home Minister’s statement was the one on which he along with the representatives of the NBCC (Nagaland Baptist Church Council) and the government of Nagaland had appended their signatures, or otherwise.”
As an advocate, the press release continued, Jamir “should speak the truth because documents do not lie.” Further, the NPF stated that he “should not insult the intellect of the public” because–the NPF stated–“it is clearly mentioned in the agreement that postponement of the ULB polls was subject to the approval of the cabinet and the State Election Commission; and the JCC had solemnly pledged to ‘ensure people’s participation in the conduct of a peaceful ULB elections in the state… (with 33% women reservation)’ after the expiry of two months.”
Further, the NPF stated that the JCC had asked for a period of two months “to enable it to ‘educate and dialogue with different tribal bodies.’” Now that the government had given time and declared all elections held to the municipal and town council elections null and void, the NPF added that it was “bewildering that the JCC and other groups, instead of organising interactive / consultative sessions with various tribal bodies to educate the people as promised” were doing just the opposite: boycotting the consultative meetings organised by the government and asking people not to attend these meetings.”
