Konyak Union decries NSF ultimatum

Dimapur, Feb. 29 (EMN): The Konyak Union has taken exception to the ultimatum issued by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) to the state government concerning the formation of a State Selection Board (SSB).

In a statement issued on Saturday, the union said that “our Naga brethren from Manipur”, who were also signatories to the NSF ultimatum, “seem lost and confused on this very practical issue”.

Let the government of Nagaland and the citizens of the state determine the system of governance and execution within the state, it stated.

The union further maintained that the NSF’s demand for an SSB was “unfortunate”. According to the statement, any ‘domestic and reformative measures’ should be introduced only after thorough debate and consultation within the state. 

“Our Naga brethren from Manipur should understand it in good faith,” the statement read.

It was of the view that Nagaland is not yet “ripe” for an SSB.

Despite having one of the highest number of population, it stated, the ‘tribal representation’ of Konyak Naga tribe in Nagaland in the state employment sector is ‘very marginal or negligible’.

“The unemployment rate, if not attended to, shall rather push its force towards insurgencies problem in the state. Hence, any reformative concept should have people’s endorsement and mandate,” read the statement.

According to the union, it cannot endorse the concept of SSB at this stage without thorough consultation.