CNTC opposes women quota, govt hand in oil

Zeliang asked to clarify steps on Rongmei issue   Dimapur, November 20 : The Central Nagaland Tribes’ Council (CNTC) has censured the Nagaland government over a number of issues the state is currently mired in. The CNTC issued an elaborate statement on Sunday opposing the government’s decision to implement the 33% reservation for women in the municipalities, besides flaying the state’s attempt to push through for petroleum exploration in Wokha district. Likewise, the CNTC has demanded answers to what steps Chief Minister TR Zeliang may have taken to address the issue of recognition to the Rongmei community. Likewise, again, what steps the state government was taking to start work on the now-stalled ‘foothill road.’ Reservation for women: The CNTC has declared opposition to the move of the government to implement the 33% reservation. It ‘infringes upon the Naga customary laws and rights’ enshrined in Article 371A, the organization stated. The resentment and opposition by tribal communities in Nagaland must be respected by the government if the latter is truly concerned for the people’s welfare and their voice, the press release stated. The CNTC said that the state must ‘withdraw its plan on this move just to appease some small section of people in the guise of gender equality.’ The CNTC also claimed that the Naga people have “always treated women with reverence and a high regard in every sphere and aspect of life.” Hence, it stated, “reservation is not at all necessary.” “They are always free to compete with man in any fields and in many aspects too, they are doing better but reservation policy is not required at all in our state which will only dilute the Article 371 A,” the CNTC stated. Further, stating that the reservation “violates the customary rights of the Nagas and contravenes the provisions in Article 371A,” the group said that the TR Zeliang, who headed the Select Committee and who once “vociferously voiced” against the reservation in the Legislative Assembly on 20th March, 2012, “suddenly became a staunch advocate of women cause now which is contravening their own decision.” Calling the wavering of the government a ‘clear indication of the hypocrisy and autocratic policy’, the CNTC was of the opinion that the “flip-flop handling of the issue” reflects the lack of commitment and speaks volume of the kind of statesmanship Nagaland has today. “It also shows that our politicians deal issues according to their political convenience and interest. To stand on it and not to invite any opposition by its own party men in an opposition less government, legislators have been warned not to go against the party’s wish which is unfortunate for a democratically-elected government,” it stated. Rongmei issue: The CNTC also demanded answers from the state government about what steps had been taken so far ‘to ensure the concerned tribal bodies of Nagaland after all this while?’ The CNTC stated that it wishes to know “whether the govt. is really serious about the sentiment” of the indigenous tribes of Nagaland. “If so, it has been nearly two months by now, since it said it has appointed a cabinet sub-committee to resolve the issue. But it has now become all silent without any visible stride to address the issue,” the organization stated. “This govt. does not seem to be bothered until things are going out of control. The habit of taking the sentiment of the people for granted will be bitter and never yield positive results in the end.” Petroleum: The CNTC has expressed full support to the Lotha Hoho on the issue of petroleum exploration and natural resources of the state. “No body, be it governmental or non-governmental, has the right to impose any policy which is against the will and wishes of the people. The Nagas of Nagaland have been bestowed with the Articles 371A of the Indian constitution which clearly states that ‘the land and its resources fully belong to the people,’” the press release stated. The organization has demanded that the Nagaland government ‘redraft the ground modalities’ and procedures on the oil and natural gas drilling rights. “It should benefit the genuine landowners, the Lotha people and people of Nagaland state and not some vested individuals. In a very simple logic, how can just anyone come and pluck fruits from someone’s garden as he wishes without the owner’s consent?” the organization wondered. The state’s government, the CNTC explained, should “reset” the terms and conditions at the earliest. It will benefit the Lotha people ‘who are the real landowners in particular and Nagas of Nagaland in general without engaging in dirty politics which will only distance them away from the people.’ Foothill road: On the issue of the foothill road , work for which had been stopped and a stretch of 8 kilometres in the Niuland sector remains to be completed according to the press release, the CNTC has asked the chief minister and the minister in concern to uphold the ‘assurance made to complete it’ by January 2017. “The foothill road which is more popularly termed a survival road for the people of Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Wokha has become a great necessity not only for socio-economic development for the region but for both safety and security reasons against continuous harassment for commuters through the state of Assam,” the CNTC stated. The organization has urged the state’s government to take up the stated issues in all earnest ‘without delay.’