Dimapur, September 3 : The Naga Hoho has called the move of the Central Nagaland Tribes’ Council (CNTC)—withdrawing from the former over the issue of indigenous status given to the Rongmei community—a ‘game to bring social disharmony.’
The Naga Hoho issued a statement in response to the CNTC's recent decision to withdraw from the already-divided platform.
“We assert that the news item published by the CNTC under the caption ‘CNTC disassociates with Naga Hoho’ is totally misguiding which is nothing but playing hide and seek game to bring social disharmony among various sections of Naga society,” the Naga Hoho stated in the response.
Nonetheless, the organization has invited the CNTC to ‘sharing views.’
The Naga Hoho has said that its federal assembly would be held on September 28 in Kohima during which the issue of “tribe recognition” would be one of the main agendas. “In this regard, Naga Hoho fervently appeals to Ao Senden and Sumi Hoho to attend the scheduled federal assembly and share their opinions and grievances democratically so as to enable us to come out with an acceptable decision in the best interest of our Naga people,” the group stated.
The organization also claimed that the ‘letter’ to the government of Nagaland “contained just the opinion and views of the Naga Hoho and not ‘endorsement’ as alleged.”
The organization also said that the ultimatum served to the Naga Hoho by the CNTC “cannot be acknowledged, for the very fact that Naga Hoho is not answerable to CNTC...” except to the Ao Senden and the Sumi Hoho. The Lotha Hoho in its current form is not affiliated to the Naga Hoho at this time following a division in the latter earlier, the statement explained.
“Above all most importantly, it is not in the hands of Naga Hoho either to recognize or reject granting of indigenous Naga tribe to Rongmei community since it is solely under the prerogative of the state government and therefore the question of CNTC’s disassociation from Naga Hoho over the recognition of Rongmei tribe does not arise as highlighted in the local media on 1st September 2016.”
