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Dimapur, July 1 (EMN): Rengma Selo Zi (RSZ) and the Rengma Students’ Union (RSU), the apex youth and student body of the Rengma tribe, affirmed that any attempt to derail the delimitation exercise by the state government or any entity would be termed as a ‘direct suppression of Rengma aspiration and an attempt to further marginalise the already marginalised peoples of the state.’
RSZ and RSU have affirmed unflinching support to the Joint Action Committee of Tribal Hohos on Delimitation (JAC) and also expressed solidarity with all the tribal organisations representing Wokha, Longleng, Peren, Kiphire, Rengmas of Kohima district, Chakhro Angami and Western Sumi people of Dimapur district.
While pointing out that there is no connection between Naga solution and the delimitation process, it said, “the utter dishonesty of the state government and the tribes opposing delimitation by hiding under the helm of ‘Naga political solution’ was not only objectionable but most cowardly.” It urged the government of Nagaland and other entities opposing the delimitation process to stop indulging in delay tactics.
It recounted that Tseminyu in 1948, Wokha in 1945, Zunheboto in 1947 and Peren in 1949 were four bench court headquarters, which were subsequently upgraded to district headquarters except Tseminyu. It also reminded that when the interim government was set up during 1961-1963, the Rengma tribe had two representatives in the body, but when the first state assembly election was held in 1964, they were reduced to one representative only.
“The 1973 delimitation exercise was a fraud committed on the Rengmas and the other tribes in the state,” stated RSU president Heiko Kent and RSZ president Kenneth Kath.
It also pointed out that when the 2002 Delimitation Act was enacted, the Delimitation Commission had proposed to increase the number of seats in Kohima district from 7 to 8 by delimiting 12 Tseminyu AC as Tseminyu I and II. It however, lamented that the power-mongers in the state government scuttled the delimitation process and a weak-willed GoI failed to uphold its constitutional obligations.
In this regard, RSZ and RSU have appealed to the Naga brothers to look at the delimitation process through the lens of fairness, equality and justice. It further conveyed to the GOI and the Delimitation Commission that bowing down before irrational pressures and arguments would be a defeat of Indian democracy.
Welcoming the central government’s decision to carry out the long overdue constituency delimitation in Nagaland, the Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO) and the Lotha Lower Range Elders and Officers’ Forum (LLREOF) urged upon the government and the committee on delimitation to carry out the exercise in the most unbiased manner in the interest of fair play and justice for all.
The two organisations have made this appeal during a joint meeting on June 27 after a threadbare discussion on the issue of constituency delimitation in Nagaland and its effect on Wokha district in general and Bhandari sub-division in particular.
“Such effort is expected to pave the way for correcting the past error that resulted in socio-politico disparities and economic backwardness of the people in various afflicted areas in the state,” an update from LLREOF convenor W Chenithung Humtsoe and LLRPO president Nonghothung Yanthan stated.
The meeting further decided to extend unflinching support to Lotha Hoho (LH), Lotha Students’ Union (LSU) and other aggrieved bodies in their endeavours to facilitate the implementation of the constituency delimitation in Nagaland.