A section of participants of the ‘Freedom Rally’ at Old MLA Hostel Junction, Kohima on January 23. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 23
The Watchman in collaboration with Awaken India Movement today organized a peaceful rally under the theme ‘Restitutio de Libertus’ in cohesion with the ‘Freedom Rally’ at Old MLA Hostel Junction, Kohima on Sunday.
Rev Azahto Kiba of New Life Church, Kohima, advocate Neiteo Koza, State Coordinator, Human Rights Law Network, Naga Students’ Federation president Kegwayhun Tep, Pastor Khi Peter of Nagamese Baptist Church, High school area, Kohima, representative from Rising People Party and others spoke at the rally.
The speakers highlighted a series of concerns and deliberated on the need of restoration of personal liberty and self determination.
The participants undertook peaceful march from Old MLA Hostel junction - Old NST - Razhu Point - Assam Rifle camp and back to Old MLA hostel junction.
Later, a memorandum was submitted to Nagaland’s Chief Minister and chairperson of High Power Committee, Chief Secretary and Principal Director of School Education Nagaland, seeking their intervention for revocation/roll back of all the existing orders/notifications making vaccination mandatory for the adults as well as the children in the state.
The memorandum stated that the people are extremely aggrieved with the existing policies of the Government making vaccination mandatory for the adults as well as the children and discriminating the unvaccinated persons. “Ever since the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines, numerous mandates have been imposed one after the other, leaving no option for the citizens to make independent choice and decide for themselves,” it read.
It recalled that neither the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare nor Central Government has ever stated COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory from the very inception and the same has been confirmed again by the Central Government before the Supreme Court during the course of hearing a matter on vaccination that “they have not made vaccination mandatory nor issued any SOP coercing the people from taking the vaccine and that vaccination is voluntary.”
It said that the Central Government had given permission in December 2021, to vaccinate children in the age group of 15-18, however this has been treated as a mandate by the concerned authority.
“Indian Bar Association has in its letter dated January 5, 2022 mentioned that the Central government represented by the Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had submitted in its affidavit in Writ Petition No.1820 of 2021 before the Hon'ble Bombay High Court that COVID-19 vaccine is completely voluntary for all citizens of India and that the said department has not formulated or suggested any policies for discrimination between citizens of India on the basis of their vaccination,” it contended.
Further stating that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is the appropriate authority for formulating policies regarding any health related issues and thereafter directs the respective states health department for implementation, the memorandum questioned how the state government is formulating policies forcing the citizens including innocent children to be inoculated “when the apex parent department has not even formulated guideline for compulsory vaccination of citizens keeping in mind the constitutional mandates.”
Vaccination is a choice and should not be forced upon anyone directly or paradoxically, the memorandum stated adding “your authority has sworn by the Constitution to uphold its ideals and protect the rights of the people and therefore, it becomes the bounden duty of your esteemed authorities to frame policies in line with the Constitution and not violate it.”
It further claimed that numerous side effects have been caused by the vaccine; it alleged that till date, the State “does not have a mechanism in place for reporting cases of Adverse Event Following Vaccination (AEFIs) and for conducting clinical study for the same.”
“It is imperative that the right to self determination remains intact as it is an inherent right of the people which is recognized by the Constitution and International Laws and cannot be taken away by any authority in a civilized and democratic country such as India,” it added.
The memorandum which was signed by Pastor Khi Peter, Neiteo Koza, Rev Azahto Kiba, and Kevisede Kire requested the concerned authority to roll out or revoke all existing orders and notifications on vaccine mandates, provide mechanisms for reporting AEFIs and conduct clinical study of the same in the interest of public. It also requested that the government stop demanding vaccination certificate for travelling, attending schools and colleges, markets, show rooms, public gatherings, churches, office etc., and fix a quantum of monetary compensation to be paid to each person who have suffered side effects or died after been administered COVID-19 vaccines.
