Tseminyu, June 30 (MExN): The Rengma Selo Zi (RSZ) and the Rengma Students’ Union (RSU) on June 30 affirmed its ‘unflinching’ support to the Joint Action Committee of Tribal Hohos on Delimitation (JAC).
It requested the Government of Nagaland and other entities opposing the delimitation process in the state “to stop indulging in delay tactics.” It said that the “utter dishonesty of the state government and the tribes opposing delimitation by hiding under the hem of ‘Naga political solution’ is not only objectionable but most cowardly.”
Stating that there is no connection between Naga solution and the delimitation process, the RSZ and RSU maintained that citing a relation between the two is “thoroughly disingenuous.”
The apex youth and student body of the Rengmas maintained that any attempt to derail the delimitation exercise is a direct suppression of Rengma aspiration and an attempt to further marginalize the already marginalized people of the state.
They stated that Wokha, Zunheboto and Peren Bench Court HQs except Tseminyu have been already upgraded to District HQs. When the Interim Government was set up during 1961-1963, the Rengma tribe had two representatives in the body. But when the first state assembly election was held in 1964, we were reduced to one representative only, the RSZ and RSU stated.
“The 1973 delimitation exercise was a fraud committed on the Rengmas and the other tribes in the state,” they further alleged.
As such, the 2002 Delimitation Act was an answer to the long felt desire of the Rengmas, they said.
The Delimitation Commission proposed to increase the number of seats in Kohima district from 7 to 8 by delimitating 12 Tseminyu A/C as Tseminyu I &II.
The Unions said that the Rengma people have not forgotten how the 2002 delimitation process was scuttled by ‘power-mongers in the state government’.
The RSZ and RSU appealed to the Nagas to look at the delimitation process “through the lens of fairness, equality and justice.”
The Unions said that the representational fraud happening since 1973 should prick the conscience of any good Christian. “Instead, the reactions of some of the organizations reflect petty and arrogant tribal mindset,” they added.
They further stressed that muscle flexing and power-mongering can never bring goodwill.
The RSZ and RSU said that it stands in unison with all the tribal organizations representing Wokha, Longleng, Peren, Kiphire, Rengmas of Kohima District, Chakhro Angami and Western Sumi people of Dimapur district.
In their statement, the Unions conveyed to the Government of India and the Delimitation Commission that bowing down before irrational pressures and arguments will be a defeat of Indian democracy.
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