Dimapur: The Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) on Saturday, April 27 called a joint consultative meeting at its office in Dimapur with several Dimapur civil society organisations, presidents of Tribal Hohos, unions and associations to talk on the indefinite shutter down that is in place in Dimapur.
Speaking to the press after a three-hour-long meeting with all the civil apex bodies, NCD president Etsungmomo Kikon said that DCCI should meet the state government and resolve the indefinite shutter and said that it is the general public who is suffering the most.
The NCD president also highlighted that while Dimapur already faces a lot of extortions, he noted that another form of extortion is going on which may not necessarily be classified as “taxation”. He said that numerous associations and unions of respective colonies and areas, and in the name of those, a lot of money is collected.
Kikon also said that the NCD supports the indefinite shutter down, but the council is of the view that the situation be resolved at the earliest given the huge inconvenience faced by the general population.
Further, Kikon said that the Council still stands on the idea of “One Government, One Tax”, a public resolution adopted in 2013.
Additionally, NCD vice president (CB) GK Rengma noted that when the 2015 Framework Agreement was signed with the Government of India, there were not as many factions in Nagaland. He questioned if this is the policy of the Government of India or the Government of Nagaland that after the Framework Agreement, there are so many new organisations and new factions.
Rengma also criticized the implementation of Ceasefire Ground Rules, suggesting a lack of effectiveness. He expressed optimism that a solution to the Naga political issue would resolve underlying grievances and accused the Government of India of perpetuating division among the Naga people, instead of working for a solution.
Following the joint consultative meeting, the NCD submitted a representation to the Nagaland Government’s Chief Secretary regarding the indefinite shutter down in Dimapur district. The representation outlined several resolutions passed during the session, including a call for the DCCI and the State Government to settle the issue within two days.
It stated that while the house “strongly” supported the ongoing shutter down in Dimapur, and that the NCD will participate in the negotiations process and decision thereof, however, it reasserted the earlier resolution of NCD that no arbitrary imposition of lightning bandh/strikes will be allowed under its jurisdiction without its permission, in the days to come.
It suggested that the DCCI and the State Government should settle the issue of indefinite shutter down within 2 days. Further, it warned that “In case of failure to do so, the NCD along with the CSOs, Tribal Hohos, Unions and Associations will be compelled to take a further stringent course of action in Dimapur District”.
It gave a 45-day notice to the Home Department and the District Administration to thoroughly verify and scrutinize existing unions/associations/welfare organisations.
It also stated that given the gravity of the situation, no illegal taxation/extortion will be entertained to any Naga Political Groups (NPGs) as long as this present impasse is resolved between the CSOs, the Government of Nagaland and the Government of India.
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