Dimapur, October 1 : Deliberating at length the issue of 'recognition' to the Rongmei community, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has opined that any amendment or alteration to the government notification of 1977 would be detrimental to the future of Nagaland and in violation of the safeguards and provisions given in Article 371A of the constitution.
In its second session held on September 27, the Executive Committee of NPCC sought to make it known that the Nagaland State Assembly had cautiously considered the interests of all indigenous inhabitants and tribes of Nagaland and took a wise decision by issuing a notification in 1977 in this regard, according to a release issued by NPCC president K Therie today.
The NPCC pointed out that Nagaland is protected by ILP under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 while its land and resources are protected under Article 371A.
While discussing and taking into consideration the Government notification of 1977, the house resolved to advise the Government of the day to uphold the notification and “apply the same yardstick to all that wishes to live peacefully in Nagaland”, the release stated.
On the internal disturbances in Kiphire and Tuensang, the release said the Executive Committee of the NPCC was enlightened by the Goodwill Mission team that toured Kiphire and Tuensang districts. The State Congress said it was “shocked to hear from the various communities living in the districts expressing non-existence of government”.
Alleging that the internal disturbances have escalated during the NPF-BJP led government claiming many lives with the government not being able to address the issues in any manner, the NPCC said: “People are left to fend for themselves and therefore all the tribes in districts have formed their own private militias”.
“Government has not been able to even uphold the Hon’ble Court’s order. Attitude of the state government implies of their mentality to suppress rights and justice,” it further alleged.
It recalled that a Sangtam couple was murdered at Yayi river under Rurur village on February 2016, igniting communal backlash at Kiphire town that led to destruction of public properties, displacement of over 1400 public including government employees and students.
Even though the SIT constituted by the State Government on the matter submitted its reports, the government has not acted either to arrest the culprits or to compensate the loss of lives and properties, the NPCC stated. “This only shows that the government of the day does not have the political will,” it said.
The Executive Committee of NPCC advised that the Government of the day to uphold the court orders in the matters of land dispute.
Also alleging that the demand for recognition of Tikkhir tribe has been suppressed for over three decades, the NPCC demanded that the Government of the day deliver justice without delay.
It further demanded that the government act upon the SIT report and address the demands and compensate the next of kin of the couple murdered under Rurür village jurisdiction.
The NPCC also wanted that the government compensate loss of public properties and ban tribal militias immediately.
