Dimapur, April 10 (MExN): The Ao Senso Telongjem is unhappy that four municipal wards represented by Ao councilors have been “totally wiped out” with the state government reserving the four for women representation.
In an open letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of Nagaland, the AST mentioned the government’s notification in pursuance of the Municipal Act 2006, 8 wards out of the 23 comprising the Dimapur Municipal to be allotted to SC, ST and women. While appreciating the move for women representation, the ATS in the letter appended by its president I Temjen Jamir and general secretary T Panger Tzudir, took note that the wards represented by Aos have been “systematically reserved for women representation.” This meant that representation of the Ao community “have been totally wiped out” without valid reasons. The four municipal wards representative by Aos are wards 10, 11, 12 and ward 13. Stating that while the AST is not against women representation, the organization queried why all the wards represented by a single community have been reserved for women. It also queried whether or not the exercise is against the “principle of equal representation.”
While undertaking the exercise to realize equal representation, if the competent authority “chose” to undermines the “rights of a particular tribe,” then the principle will be “buried under ‘ism.’”
Terming the exercise highlighted above as “thoroughly undemocratic” and “unconstitutional,” the Ao Senso Telongjem called for review of the reservation in the interest of justice and “in the interest of the public.” It also warned of an own course of action if the competent authority fails to comply with the demand.
