Public Action Committee monitoring of check-gates begins today

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep. 15: The Public Action Committee (PAC) under Naga Council Dimapur has reiterated that its proposed plan to deploy volunteers at check-gates from September 16 onwards was solely to ensure that no illegal money is collected from transporters by any state or non-state actors.

Addressing media persons at Tourist Lodge in Dimapur on Sunday, the convenor of PAC Vekhosayi Nyekha said the proposed plan was ‘people’s movement’ and reiterated the committee’s stand that it was neither against the government of the day nor the Naga political groups.

Nyekha said: “Governor RN Ravi, who is also the interlocutor of the Indo-Naga peace talks, should discuss with the Naga political groups on the ceasefire agreement and implement it in letter, not just in spirit.”

According to him, the ‘unwarranted collection of illegal money’ by the numerous Naga groups is affecting the people. “The public is ready to pay for their food and essential needs but not for their luxurious life,” the convenor said.

He reminded that the committee had submitted a representation to the chief minister urging the government to implement stringent laws that treat wrongdoers as organised criminals, similar to the ones introduced by the governments of Maharashtra and Bihar.

The convenor said that by the proposed plan to check illegal collection of money, the committee was not taking law into their own hands. According to him, the committee will support the departments authorise to collect money at the gates.

“No government departments are allowed to collect money illegally and all those government agencies who are indulging in illegal collection of money shall be treated and dealt accordingly; also if the transport union/individuals/owners are found indulging in illegal payment, they will be dealt accordingly,” Nyekha said.

The PAC convenor has also assured to address the grievances of any transporters if they are threatened or manhandled during the six days. He appealed to the transporters to bring their grievances before the committee.