Against the backdrop of the state government refusing to release the three arrested members of Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), the ACAUT Nagaland has called for a public rally near the Clock Tower junction in Dimapur on Thursday. The three ACAUT members were arrested on December 12, are currently under judicial custody, on charges of trespassing when they raided warehouses in Dimapur allegedly used for siphoning and repacking rice meant for public distribution system.
This column has recently commented on the aspect of the legality of ACAUT conducting raids without competent authorities, the power of a mass based movement and the need for the government to seriously look into the alleged scam, making space for diplomacy to play a role.
On Thursday morning, the day of ACAUT’s rally, the Commissioner of Police Dimapur supposedly signed an order promulgating Section 144 CrPC prohibiting assembly of five or more persons within 100 metres radius of the Clock Tower area following an order by the state government denying ACAUT’s application to rally at the said location. The reason cited for the government’s denial to ACAUT’s proposed public rally was “inconveniences that the general public would be subjected to, particularly during the festive season”. Digital copies of both the orders went rife in the social media, acquiring strong criticism from those present in such platforms.
This order of the state government brings to mind the situation back in 1986, CrPC 144 being ordered in the eleventh hour, when rallyists already hit the streets. Both situations then and now, were in public interest. Unfortunately, then, it had cost the lives of two young high school students.
Now the public rally called by the mass based movement/organization ACAUT Nagaland was supposed to be a peaceful rally, and while past experiences could easily raise apprehension for authorities, suppression of people’s voice by anyone, anytime, anywhere in a democracy is wrong. More so, on the basis of festivities. Economic blockades and flash closure of business establishments could no doubt impact both business and shoppers during a festive season, however, a public rally is altogether a different issue.
Somehow, the present state government seem to be hung on festive excuses. It was not so long ago that some legislators had openly voiced sharp disapproval of the Statehood Day being sidelined and shrouded by the hyped opening of the state funded ten-day long extravagant annual Hornbill Festival which begins from December 1 every year. For that matter, the state government launching the Nagaland Vision 2030 document, a crucial roadmap to guide the development of the state, at the same festival has raised some eyebrows.
Are we becoming too drunk of festiveness, that we have come to see everything through its obviously myopic lens? Is there really an un-festive season then? But then again, whose festivities are we really talking about? Especially for any government. Just the other day, a youth group from Mokokchung had put it bluntly for us. Just cut the crap, really.
