Bandh brings Mkg to a peaceful standstill

Mokokchung | September 4 : The All Wards Union Mokokchung bandh was observed today from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. All business establishments, educational institutions and governmental institutions remained closed, while activists of the union stood on duty in their respective jurisdictions. The twelve-hour bandh brought the whole town to a standstill and there were no vehicular or even pedestrian movement in the town. There was also no report of any confrontation or violence. The four “land-owner” villages of Ungma, Mokokchung, Khensa and Chuchuyimpang also imposed the bandh in their respective areas.
The leaders of the AWUM called a Press conference during the day and claimed that the bandh called today was ‘not against women’ or the government, but a “step to safeguard the people from alien and irrelevant laws infringing upon generally accepted custom of the Nagas”.
They also claimed that the “people” of Mokokchung were happy that the election to the Mokokchung Municipal Council (MMC), which was boycotted in 2004, could be finally conducted after they came to an ‘understanding point’ with the government. However, the union claimed, the ‘happiness’ was short-lived because another “irrelevant” law was enacted by the government “without any consultation with the people”.
The Nagaland Legislative Assembly during its session beginning September 9 next is expected to debate over the issue, they informed. If the state legislature ignores the “voice of the people”, the wards claimed, the Nagaland municipal and town councils will take appropriate course of action. Further, the electorate resorting to their strongest “democratic weapon”, recalling elected representatives, is also not ruled out, they said. Recalling elected representatives by the electorate is a democratic act whereby the electorate is vested the right to have their elected representatives, step down, and one which has never been exercised in Nagaland.
The AWUM speaking in support of their repeated statements claimed to be what they asserted are for upholding “customary practices”. They claimed that the Ao community holds its women “at par with men” and “in terms of worth and human rights”.
They claimed the quota reservation implies that ‘there exists inequality. ‘Which is not’, they claimed. They also said that Article 243 (D) of the Indian Constitution contains “several laws contradicting the Naga customary laws” and asserted that ‘serious thought’ needs to be put in before implementing each of the provisions in the Article, which otherwise, they claimed, ‘will only bring more confusion and stir resentment’. “The law-makers should contextualize the Acts of Parliament before passing it in the floor of the State Assembly,” they opined. They also claimed that the state legislature passed the Act on 33% Reservation for Women without due consultation with the “people”. “The lackadaisical members of the Assembly, whom we elected, passed the Act without in-depth analysis or consultation with the people whom they represent, and that shows their immaturity, and is causing this problem” one of the AWUM representatives said.
On being queried if the AWUM have plans to suing the government on this matter, the union leaders claimed that they already have the verdict of the highest court of the world in their favor, “the people’s court”.  When queried if election to the MMC will be conducted sans the five ‘reserved wards’, AWUM leaders said that there will be no election in the “remaining 67% if 33% policy is not revoked.”
On the question of the president of Ao Senden, Temjenkaba, making public statements in favor of the 33% Women Reservation Act, the AWUM categorically said that he made his ‘personal statements’ misusing the ‘good office of Ao Senden’ without even consulting his colleagues, and added that he will be answerable “to the Ao community”. The union leaders even hinted the possibility of impeaching the president and said, “the Ao community” will ask him “to which community he belongs to.”
Later in the evening, the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung Bendangkokba, when queried for a comment on certain quarters of the people defying the government’s order said that the erring government servants will be liable to explain on their defying the government’s order. The DC had earlier through an order declared the bandh null and void. On the public remaining indoors despite his order, the DC replied that the people have their right to make their grievances heard by the government without resorting to bandhs, which is not productive.