Kohima, Feb. 8: Reacting to the statement made by chief minister TR Zeliang, reported widely in the newspapers on Wednesday, that the issue has gone beyond 33% women reservation and that there was vested interest and politics at play, the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) and the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) Kohima have asked Zeliang to clearly spell out “who, which party or organisation” was involved in the issue so that the people they represent would clearly understand the matter.
The organisations contention was that since Zeliang had not thoroughly specified, it amounted to making false allegation with a view to dilute the issue and to derail the ongoing movement which was tantamount to misleading the public “for his selfish ends”. The JCC and NTAC issued a joint press release on Wednesday asking the chief minister to also make it clear how he claimed to have acceded to the people’s demands.
“In this regard, we would like to refresh his memory that the first demand goes to him for ‘stepping down’ from the chair of chief minister. People’s demand is not whether or not he has the majority but purely on moral ground as he has betrayed the people leading to the killing of two innocent young boys who had bright future and also injuring several others. Moreover, he has clearly demonstrated negative attitude towards the appeal of NBCC,” the release stated.
The two committees also pointed out that Zeliang needs to realise now that he was inconsistent with the interpretation of Part IX A of the Constitution of India. “There is a suspicion that either he is devoid of legal knowledge or someone is misguiding him to jump from one position to the other. Zeliang should have been responsible enough to consult the people as he later confessed to do so,” it stated.
They also reminded the chief minister that all the MLAs including him were elected by the people and not by the Constitution as stated by him in the newspapers. As such, the JCC and NTAC reminded the chief minister, he was answerable to the people of Nagaland first, and not the Constitution.
“He must know that he will have to go to the people for his election if he desires. The Constitution of India will not elect him but the people will,” the release stated.
JCC, NTAC seek cooperation
In a separate press release, the JCC and the NTAC Kohima have thanked all the tribe hohos, organisations and individuals for their support in “the people’s move for justice for the Nagas” and sought their continued cooperation.
As resolved in the coordination meeting held on Tuesday last, asking the chief minister to step down on moral ground within a period of 3 days with effect from February 8, the JCC and NTAC stated that their movement would continue till they have achieved their demands within the stipulated time. Further course of action would be intimated to the people in due course of time, they stated, and added that they regret the inconvenience caused to all.
