Dimapur, Aug. 11 (EMN): Two Naga apex organisations have taken umbrage at what they described were “unpalatable statements” made by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio “on various occasions.”
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the Naga Hoho and the Naga Mothers’ Association claimed that the chief minister had on various occasions, denounced the existence of the two organisations.
At the meeting of Joint Legislature Forum and Ex-Parliamentarians on August 7 in Kohima, they alleged, the chief minister had stated: “there is no more Naga Hoho and NMA to represent the voice of the people, and also FNR is no more active and the people have lost confidence. So there is no apex organisation to work for Naga peace process.”
The two organisations retorted that ‘despite of all odds, the Naga Hoho and the NMA have been standing firm, protecting the basic principles and common interest of the Naga people till today.’
“At this crucial moment, when many of the state-centric people have been trying to destroy the apex organisations in the state and create disunity among the Nagas, it is unfortunate and surprising for a peoples’ leader to castigate and nullify the age-old social institutions in such a high level gathering. Nevertheless, most of the Naga tribe hohos and woman organisations from Nagaland state has dissociated from Naga Hoho and NMA for various reasons.
“However, that does not qualify for the chief minister to denounce the very existence of the two organisations. Naga people are well aware that, Naga civil societies are sharply divided at the moment due to various issues that was introduced by none other than the state government like the Rongmei tribe recognition in 2012, enactment of Article 243 (T) with regard to 33% women reservation in 2006 which compounded to the most unfortunate and unforgettable ULBs election fiasco.
“We are aware that both NMA and Naga Hoho have landed up in this present position because of the division among the menfolk and womenfolk on the above stated issues. At this crucial juncture, we expect the chief minister, who is none other than a seasoned politician and a respectable leader, to talk with maturity and work hard towards bringing unity and rebuild the fractured Naga society with balance views and objectives,” read the statement.
The two organisations have also urged Naga people to stand united and face various challenges during this defining moment “as we will be able to reach our destiny only when we are united.”
