GBs show cause notice invalid, says RPP leader Joel

DIMAPUR — The president of Rising People’s Party (RPP) Joel Naga has termed the 14-day show cause notice served to him by the Dimapur District GB Association as “invalid,” arguing that by expressing an opinion, he is not accountable to any anybody.

The RPP president was addressing a press conference on Saturday, to clarify his stand on the issue involving GB of New Market, Abdul Kayum Talukdar, and subsequent show-cause notice by the GB association.

Joel pointed out that the show cause notice is “technically invalid” as such notices are served only to members belonging to the same organisation. Secondly, he clarified that an individual is not answerable to anybody for expressing a personal opinion.

However, if an individual’s words result in defamation of the GBs or stir communal disharmony, then legal action can be initiated. But replying to the notice or going to the GB association does not arise, he maintained.

The RPP president explained that even prior to India’s independence and Nagaland statehood, the British who controlled the Naga Hills in the 19th century, recognised ‘khel’ leaders and village chiefs and bestowed them the title of GBs (Gaon Burahs). And to this day, GBs continue to serve as custodians of Naga customary law and traditions, he said.

However, in the present urban context, Joel said the role of GBs in urban areas differs significantly to that in the villages due to the presence of police, administrative bodies and municipal authorities who are responsible for maintaining law and order.

Therefore, customary law is not applicable in town or urban areas, and this viewpoint was expressed by him during an interview, as a matter of personal opinion,

It was suggested that having GBs in towns or urban areas might not be necessary, and this perspective is open to debate, Joel said.

He said as a Naga, he had expressed a personal opinion, highlighting the need to initiate a debate on the matter of appointing non-indigenous persons as GBs, and that his intention was not to defame the GBs.

He went on to say that Nagaland is grappling with a significant challenge of illegal immigration and the concern is that individuals like Talukdar could have issued residential proof certificates to thousands of people.

Having a residential proof certificate can facilitate the acquisition of various documents including a driving license, trade license, Aadhaar card and bank account, he said.

Naga announced that the RPP intends to file RTI (Right to Information) with the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the Statistics office, the district Transport office and the Dimapur Municipal Council, to gather information on how many residential certificates have been issued to outsiders from Dimapur town.

And basing on these residential certificates, they would ascertain how many birth certificates, trade and driving licenses have been issued to outsiders.

When questioned about the appointment of non-Nagas as GBs of New Market, a practice that began in 1996, Joel insisted that only a Naga GB can be the custodian of Naga customary laws and tradition, while questioning how a non-Naga can be entrusted with the custodianship of Naga customary laws.

He further clarified that the continuity of “this practice” is due to a loophole in the government system and that the party was not against the GB association. But the Nagaland government should establish clear and comprehensive guidelines to swiftly address all such anomalies which can be settled in no time, he said.

The vice president of RPP, Vitho Zao, remarked that if individuals are required to seek permission from organisations or associations, even to share their personal opinions, then it could pose a “significant challenge in moving forward.”

“In a democratic country, whether one’s opinions are accepted or rejected, the primary objective is to engage in a constructive debate on the issue at hand,” Zao said.

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