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DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) said on Monday that the ongoing ‘chakka bandh’ in the six districts of the state is causing immense hardships to the people of the affected areas, who already face logistic challenges by nature.
In a press statement, the party said that the bandh imposed by the owners of commercial vehicles in Mokokchung, Tuensang, Zunheboto, Phek, Peren, and Longleng districts due to non payment of poll duty related dues is critically hindering the smooth movement of goods and people.
Chakka bandh hits public transport services in 6 Nagaland districts
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]“A major part of the districts in question are logistic challenges by nature, and the last thing that we needed was human folly pilling on to the default list of hazards plaguing it year round,” the statement read.
The NPCC said that it mirrors the sentiments of the aggrieved party in demanding the state government immediately release the dues owed to them and put an end to the inconveniences faced by the people of the affected districts.
Further, it alleged that it has also come to the party’s attention that the state government has still not handed over the ex-gratia announced by it for the eight victims that lost their lives in the tragic accident that occurred at Kandinu on September 20 this year.
It may be mentioned that on September 20, eight people were killed in a road accident in the Kandinu area of Tseminyu, Nagaland. Following the incident, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio announced an ex-gratia of INR 2 lakh each for the deceased.
The NPCC called it a matter of great sadness and collective shame that it has become necessary to remind the government to uphold its promise. Both issues, according to the party, could have been easily addressed without causing so much distress, with the most basic of interventions expected of any elected government.
“We can only hope and pray that the government of the day somehow finds within itself the ethical and moral wherewithal to aspire for a little bit more than they do now,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Ao Senden has expressed solidarity with the All Commercial Vehicle Owners’ Association (ACVOA) in its protest against the government’s delay in disbursing payments for services rendered by ACVOA during the Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections in 2023.
In a note, the Ao Senden urged the Government of Nagaland to act promptly and immediately release the sanctioned amount to the ACVOA to ease the sufferings faced by them in particular and the general public at large.
The office of the Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (OKM) also, in a press note, expressed its ‘unwavering support’ for the ‘chakka bandh’ called by ACVOA.
“We believe that the demands of the ACVOA are justified, as they have rendered their services, and the government should promptly provide them with their rightfully earned dues,” the note read.
The OKM, however, maintained that the public should not bear the brunt of these issues and that the ongoing protest is adversely affecting the economic well-being of society.
It urged the government to take immediate action and called for the formation of an inquiry team to investigate the reasons for the outstanding payments' delays, citing the importance of identifying the factors that led to this situation and ensuring accountability in the process.
Noting that transparency and good governance should be prioritised to instill public trust and confidence, the OKM urged the state government to resolve these issues as soon as possible to avoid further economic hardships and disturbances in society.
The Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM) has conducted an assessment of the ongoing 'chakka bandh' and expressed deep concern about the multifaceted consequences it has brought to society.
The AKM stated in a press release that the bandh has a direct impact on the student community, with students experiencing significant inconveniences in attending schools and tuition centres due to the disruptions caused by the bandh.
It also stated that the disruption caused by the bandh has affected the general public's daily lives, affecting their ability to reach their workplaces; essential services are disrupted; and the availability of goods and services has been severely impacted.
In light of these developments, the AKM has urged the government to take immediate action and expedite the payment of dues owed to the ACVOA