Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 24 (EMN): Amid safety measures being implemented around the world, including India to mitigate the spread of Covid-19, protestors numbering around 30 took part in the 'World Wide Rally for Freedom' in Kohima on Saturday, objecting use of face mask, lockdowns, restrictions, vaccination, testing and discrimination based on vaccination status.
However, the district administration had earlier issued a notice prohibiting such a rally and subsequently, police personnel arrived at Old MLA Hostel junction, where the proposed event was supposed to be held, on Saturday.
The rally was called amid the second wave of Covid-19 badly affecting north-eastern states, including Nagaland both in terms of positive cases and casualties.
Azahto Naga, a member of Team Awaken Nagaland, told journalists that the government of Nagaland was trying to ‘insist’ on implementing mandatory vaccination despite the Central government’s clarification that it was voluntary.
"Mandatory vaccination should not affect the livelihood of government employees or daily wage earners," he said while citing the rulings of high courts in the neighbouring states,
He also stated that wearing of face mask shouldn’t be made compulsory.
The protestors also demanded the authority to allow churches to remain "open at all times”, stop mandatory testing with RT PCR kit, and not to impose lockdown.
They also submitted a memorandum to the chief secretary of Nagaland through the deputy commissioner of Kohima, it was informed.
Earlier, the district administration had refused to grant permission to hold the proposed gathering and strictly comply with the instruction, failing which it would be deemed to have violated the Nagaland Epidemic Disease Covid-129 Regulations 2020, which are regulated under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1987, and committed an offence punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.