Delimitation in Nagaland: Dayo hits out at those attacking Imna Along

Dimapur, June 29 (EMN): The Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (Dayo) has taken exception to “personal attack and allegations” meted out to Temjen Imna Along, the minister for Higher and Technical Education and Tribal Affairs, in connection with delimitation in Nagaland by some civil society organisations and individual. It stated that it was the state Cabinet and not individuals that took the decision on delimitation.

“The purported letter of Shri Temjen Imna Along endorsing and conveying to the central leaders to delay delimitation exercise as per the decision of the state cabinet meeting made on March 2nd, 2020 along with the honourable Chief Minister of Nagaland is collective Cabinet decision and not otherwise,” Dayo stated in a press release on Monday.

The organisation condemned the statements made by Lotha Hoho (LH) and Lotha Students’ Union (LSU), describing it as “unfortunate and unacceptable”, adding that it expects the responsible bodies “to be more responsible and do thorough research before going to the press for this kind of sensitive matters”.

It may be mentioned that the LH and LSU had earlier condemned the action of the chief minister, BJP Nagaland president Temjen Imna Along and BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav for recommending postponement of delimitation in Nagaland.

“As an elected member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and an honourable member of the cabinet, he has every right to express the decision of the cabinet and therefore condemnation and pointing out individual cabinet minister is nothing short of restoring to tribalism. The decision of the cabinet to delay delimitation process is not the decision made by him alone and therefore, the Dayo under no circumstances will allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to condemn our leader,” the statement read.

The organisation also hit out at NPP leader Hayithing Bill Lotha for allegedly branding tribal leaders of the Naga tribes as “so called self-styled leaders” and “megalomaniac fools”.

“The government of Nagaland has officially rejected the census of 2001 vide letter to the Registrar and Census Commissioner of India, August 22nd, 2005 conveying the rejection of 2001 census stating several inconsistencies, erroneous data, exaggerated and implausible population figures,” the press release read, adding that carry out the delimitation exercise on the basis of a rejected census would be odd.

“To ensure transparency, truth and justice once and for all in all days to come Dayo is of the opinion that until the population data are validated and its census judiciously conducted, then only delimitation exercise be conducted.

“The Dayo is also of the opinion in consonant with majority of the tribes in Nagaland that solution for the long-awaited Indo-Naga political issue should be given priority instead of delimitation exercises which may hurt the sentiments of many and differences amongst tribes inhabiting Nagaland,” it stated.