[dropcap]F[/dropcap]irst of all, let me begin by beginning with the exact beginning sentence as appeared in the Nagaland Post on 24 April 2015, quote “Apropos to the new letter published in the Nagaland Post and Morung Express “An open letter to Chairman, DPDB, Phek dated the 22nd April, 2015”, I am constraint to issue this rejoinder by stating some points to clear any misunderstanding” unquote.
Well Mr. Eyekowe, please do your homework properly and cross-check your facts before going to the press/media for any publication because let me inform you that my news article appeared on 21st April, 2015 and it was published in Nagaland Post and Eastern Mirror and it never appeared in the Morung Express, so before courting yourself another controversy for dragging some innocent Newspaper’s name, get your facts right.In your point No. 1, you gave this shallow argument saying priority is given to the host and issues pertaining to them being discussed, well priority may be given but that doesn’t mean issues pertaining to them “ONLY AND ONLY” should be discussed. Please check the past DPDB minutes, you will find that issues pertaining to the Host “ONLY AND ONLY” are never discussed/deliberated. It is always an agglomeration of issues about two or more areas/communities of the district that are discussed.
In point No. 2, quote “It never shows the writer to be a broad minded person with a larger outlook” unquote well let me inform you that there is a big Khezha village called LOSAMI( I hope you have not forgotten your village), many small very backward and big Chokri villages too even under Meluri A/C(forget about other backward constituencies of the district for the moment), but still if agendas, proposals and issues pertaining to the Chairman, DPDB’s community “ONLY AND ONLY” are discussed, is he not sowing seeds of ‘ism’, this I left it to the readers to judge who is more broad-minded and tribalism/‘ismed’.
Also let me inform you that I don’t need any Certificate/Permission from the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, members of DPDB or Yitachu or even you to air my views in the print media, it is already guaranteed to me by the Indian Constitution and I have every right to do so under Article 19 (1)(a).
As for your point No. 3, my answer is a big “NO”, let me also make myself clear that I am just an ordinary citizen and I do not have any grudge/ill-feelings against anybody.
In reply to your point No. 4, I hope you ‘understand’ little English, if so go through my article again and again and ‘understand’ it properly because I never said Phek DPDB meeting for the past few years are centered only on development of Meluri Sub-Division, so take back your words, I only questioned why in the Phek DPDB meeting for the month of April held on 10 April 2015 at Tekumle, Meluri, Agendas/Proposals of one particular Area/Community “ONLY AND ONLY” are discussed/deliberated?
In your point No. 5, you said that Meluri A/C is “ONE” of the least developed, that means there are other ‘least developed’ A/C in the district too, Meluri A/C is not the least developed.
So what is wrong in me questioning why our DPDB Chairman Show extra-favoritism to only one particular ‘least developed’ A/C when there are others too?
Next for your point No. 6, let me remind you again that I have no personal grudge against anybody/community, I will be equally happy if the lesser developed areas are given priority. In my article, if you can ‘understand’ properly, then I only meant that “sensitivities” of other lesser developed areas should also be taken into account and not show extra favoritism to only one particular lesser developed area.
As for your point No. 7, I find it so amusing and in case your boss is reading this article, his conscience also might be pricking him because in reality things may be the exact opposite, but anyways that is another long different story again, so I left it to the readers, his departmental staff and people known to him to decide whether or not what you said about your boss is true.
Now for your point No. 8, refer my point No. 2. And mind you, I have never said in my article that the DPDB Chairman had ‘mentioned’ about ism amongst the people from the district, so take back your words, don’t level wild and baseless allegations against me, read my article properly, I only infer that he is trying to sow seeds of ‘ism’ among the people from the district.
Lastly, as for my article I still stood by every word I have said, and if at all I have hurt anybody, then all I can say is please do some self introspection and do the right thing in the coming days. Let me also take this opportunity to inform you that your boss Yitachu is just a PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE, in other words PUBLIC SERVANT and not PUBLIC MASTER (in case you are not aware), we the public elected him and he is now in that post and position only because of us, i.e. we the public are their real Masters, and so we expect our Servants to speak to their Masters humbly and accept criticism with humility rather than stooping so low as to even call my name 5 times in your article(by the way, I know my name), hurl insults at me, use un-parliamentary words, heckling me through print media and trying to silence my voice(Remember this is Nagaland, not North Korea) .
Your rejoinder only shows your level of arrogance and the height of VVIP RACISM in Nagaland.
Rayi Vadeo, Ziekezou Colony, Kohima.