Dimapur, Nov. 8 (EMN): The Public Action Committee (PAC) under Naga Council Dimapur, which had spearheaded the recent public monitoring of illegal collection at check gates in Dimapur, has come to the defence of two of its leaders who were at the receiving end of flak from the working committee of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs).
A statement from the PAC on Friday asserted that there was no truth in the allegation that its recent drive was a ‘threat to the survival of the NNPGs’.
“Such unreasonable allegations against PAC only goes to interprete that the NNPGs condone such activities and sustain through such illegal collections. In fact, the PAC is considerate and remorseful on the plight of the public, thus acted against illegal collections,” it stated while maintaining that the committee has never prohibited voluntary contribution.
“The PAC don't have any ulterior motive as alleged as this is a public movement, and targeting individual leaders is totally uncalled for. The PAC or any leader cannot be responsible for hunger and starvation of national workers as this is beyond our scope of activity and domain. In fact, PAC deeply regret that the Naga issue of ‘cadre survival’ could be so downgraded that the survival is affected by the activity of ‘a committee’ that is only fighting against illegal collection,” read the statement.
It refuted the charge that the committee is “anti-solution and ill-motivated”. The PAC, it asserted, has been trying to streamline ‘what is legal and what is illegal’ as the public has been ‘most-affected’ by illegal collections.
Also, the committee condemned ‘the act of barging into the residence of K Ghokheto Chophy, co-convenor of PAC on November 7 between 5 am and 6 am by five cadres of NNPGs insisting to take him to their camp’.
“We also learnt that some days back the PAC convenor Vekhosayi Nyekha and co-convenor K Ghokheto Chophy were called to Khehoi camp, reprimanded and intimidated. Our leaders disclosed that they discussed on the issues alleged and assumed that the issues were sorted but shockingly WC, NNPGs published the same on November 7. The PAC is appalled and disgusted at the unreasonable turn of events taking place in a span of 9-10 days,” it stated.
The committee maintained that ‘targeting individual leaders and families will not garner support or bring unity’.
‘The movement of PAC is a conglomeration of all Naga tribe hohos, all non-local communities and all frontal organisations of Dimapur. And all the activities initiated by PAC is solely for welfare of the people. Therefore, whatever befalls on any leader or member of PAC, the WC of NNPGs shall be held solely responsible,’ it stated.
