Dimapur, June 27 (EMN): The Western Chakhesang Hoho and the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) have expressed outrage at the PIL for “protection of non-Nagas,” said to have been filed by one Ashwini Kumar.
The two organisations issued separate press releases on Thursday warning of social unrest because of the PIL.
The Western Chakhesang Hoho rubbished the PIL as “concocted with misleading intentions and wilful misinterpretation of the warm hospitality shown by the Nagas.”
The Hoho reminded that non-Naga persons in Dimapur enjoy outmost freedom and security. In fact almost all business establishments are run by non-Nagas and they are doing very well, the Hoho stated.
“No wonder, people from outside are flooding into Nagaland seeing the good grazing ground, opportunities and friendly atmosphere. The issue of extending ILP over Dimapur has come up as a precautionary measure seeing the alarming rate of illegal immigrants entering into Nagaland through Dimapur.”
The statement reminded that the ILP has nothing to do with “interfering over the business affairs or security of non-Nagas as projected in the PIL.” The Hoho reminded said person that the purpose of the Eastern Bengal Frontal Regulation Act or the ILP was to safeguard the culture and traditions of the Nagas, and to check illegal entry of illegal immigrants into Nagaland.
“The desire of the Nagas to extend ILP coverage over Dimapur is no new thing. In fact, many non-Naga communities are quite comfortable with it until recent PIL has only created misconceptions,” the Chakhesang organisation stated.
The claim made by the person that Dimapur is not a part of the Naga Hills is “totally absurd,” the community organisation stated. The Chakhesang organisation stated: ‘In 1949 when Gopinath Bordolio was the premier of Assam, to the utter surprise of the Nagas, the British government passed an order for inclusion of Dimapur under Sibsagar district of Assam. As a consequence, there was an uprising in 1949 by thousands of Nagas under the aegis of Kohima Sardar Students' Union led by late Goyiepra Kenye as president, late JB Jasokie as general secretary and Dr. Beilieu Shuya as joint secretary.’
Despite government threats and arrest warrants, the Naga masses joined agitations which continued till the order was revoked and Dimapur was retained under Naga Hills district, the organisation stated referring to the 60th year anniversary publication of the Naga Council Dimapur.
‘Dimapur therefore was always and will always remain an integral part of Nagaland and when the people of Nagaland desire the coverage of ILP over Dimapur what is wrong with it?’ the organisation stated.
‘How can someone who has no background in Nagaland ever think to oppose the people's desire? Is there a conspiracy?’
The Hoho has warned that the PIL applicant was only inviting recurrence of another uprising and public disharmony ‘and therefore He (Mr. Ashwani Kumar) will be held totally responsible.’
The Hoho has expressed appreciation to the Nagaland government for ‘deciding to cover Dimapur under ILP zone.’
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) issued a separate press release expressing serious concern at said IPL by the person who the Congress asserted was a BJP leader.
The committee asserted that the Nagaland BJP has feigned ignorance about the person called Ashwini Upadhyay, the NPCC said he was an advocate in Supreme Court. Said person’s verified profile on Twitter and his constant PIL activism on record proves his existence as a BJP leader, the NPCC stated.
This PIL has now triggered serious disturbances in the mind of people living in Nagaland creating deep fault lines among various communities co existing peacefully for decades, the NPCC stated. ‘It has also added more fuel to CAB (Citizenship Amendment Bill) threat even to the extent of having serious ramifications on the Indo Naga political peace talks...’
The statement read: ‘If the Nagaland BJP is truly concerned about the interest of Nagas and all other genuine settlers in Nagaland, it must ensure withdrawal of the PIL filed by one of its party leaders in the Supreme Court. Simply denying the BJP connection of Ashwini Upadhyay will not wish away the troubles ahead for our people...’
