NPCC said the meeting also represents the “directionless objective” of the PDA government and its inability to implement RIIN.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Special Correspondent
Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) government in Nagaland calling for another consultative meeting with the various apex tribe organizations on the issue of Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) on April 16 has been slammed by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC).
Terming the meet called as “total sham”, the NPCC through its communication department, said it also represents the “directionless objective” of the PDA government that is unable to conclude and implement what it started off nearly two years ago when the Commission on RIIN headed by Banuo Z Jamir was constituted.
“Since the Commission on RIIN during the course of its assigned work had carried out extensive consultations with various stakeholders of Nagaland to compile and complete its report that has already been submitted to the state government, there is no reason for further delay in taking a decision on the report,” the NPCC said.
Stating that convening another consultative meeting on April 16 after the Commission on RIIN had submitted its report is akin to putting the “cart before the horse” is another attempt to delay and deny justice to the people of Nagaland, the NPCC said that the PDA government should not attempt to “override” the interest of the people by imposing “cleverly worded resolution” to shelve implementation of RIIN and tacitly shift responsibility on the stakeholders invited to the meeting.
It also cautioned the stakeholders comprising of various tribal Hohos who are being invited to the meeting to be “careful” of the government’s intention and not to succumb to the “theatrics” that would be rolled out.
“The failure of PDA government to even invite consensus from other political parties in the state on RIIN speaks volumes about their hidden agenda that is detrimental to the people of Nagaland. In its lust for power, PDA government is prepared to appease and open floodgates for all outsiders to settle in Nagaland,” stated the NPCC communication department.
It further reiterated that the PDA must implement the Commission on RIIN report with cut-off year as December 1, 1963, rather than engage in distractions and delaying tactics to prolong its stay in power by adding that the interest of the people of Nagaland and its future generations cannot be bartered or sacrificed for the interest of PDA government.