Dimapur, Feb. 6: Even as chief minister TR Zeliang has called for a “consultative meet with all tribal hohos” on February 8 to “discuss the various problems and issues arising out of the ULB elections” in Nagaland, the chief minister’s office on Monday issued a statement inviting “all right thinking citizens” to actively and positively contribute towards finding the best possible way out, by way of dialogue and sitting across the table.
The chief minister, according to a CMO press release, will have the meeting with tribe hoho leaders on February 8 at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima, at 10 am. The next day, on February 9, he will have a separate meeting with representatives of Naga Hoho, CNTC, ENPO and All Nagaland GB Federation at the same venue, at 10 am.
The chief minister’s office also reminded that though the JACWR has submitted a petition in the Supreme Court for withdrawal of their petition seeking implementation of 33% women reservation in Nagaland, “any person, lawyer or woman activist, not necessarily a Naga woman” may file a similar petition again.
“In that event, it will be back to square one. If the state government and all the stakeholders cannot arrive at an amicable resolution of this issue at the earliest, the best option appears to be to seek exemption of Nagaland from Part-IXA of the Constitution, which contains a mandatory provision under Article 243T for 33% women reservation in ULBs, which will put to rest the issue and avoid further misunderstanding among the people.”
It stated that the state cabinet “in its wisdom has decided to seek exemption of Nagaland from Part- IXA, which has to do with ULBs”, in the same way as Nagaland has been exempted from the application of Part-IX (73rd Amendment), which relates to Panchayats. “It was because the state of Nagaland was exempted from Part-IX of the Constitution, we Nagas continue to have our own established Village Councils as per our respective tribe’s customs and traditions.
“In the same way, if Nagaland is exempted from Part-IXA, the Nagas will have liberty to constitute our own Municipal Act as per our own choice. This will effectively remove any fear and apprehension in the minds of the people about the possibility of 33% women reservation diluting the provisions of Article 371 A,” it stated.
