Dimapur, April 3 (MExN): The Naga Hoho and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) have said that their concern is not only for the 33% Reservation for Women “but also with the entire section of the Municipal Act.” The Naga Hoho says that the State legislate amendments of points that are “harmful to the Naga people.”
“The Naga Hoho and ENPO is concerned not only for the 33% reservation for women, but also with the entire section of the Municipal Act and therefore we urged upon the state Government for necessary amendment taking into account the sections which are harmful to Naga people,” said Naga Hoho assistant general secretary Nikhrolo Khalo in a note received here. “We strongly feel that all the Acts which are permissible in other Indian states can not be applied in our society owing to uniqueness in nature and that we are protected under Article 371 (A) of the Indian constitution.”
The Naga Hoho also lauds the Naga Peoples Front-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland and Congress legislators for referring the 33% reservation and review of Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 to a committee. The legislators have “exhibited their maturity” towards safeguarding what the ‘hoho’ claimed is the “age old Naga traditional values that has been practiced since time immemorial.”
However, the ‘hoho’ did not explain what the “age old Naga traditional values that has been practiced since time immemorial” were. The ‘hoho’ also called “unpalatable” at the contention of the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation that the stand of the Naga Hoho was “tenable and misleading.” The organization observed the statement of committee that the “73rd and 74th Amendment of the Indian Constitution supersedes Article 371 (A). this argument is “really ambiguous” basing on the fact that Article 371 (A) of the Indian constitution protects basic rights of the people in respect of land and its resources, traditions and customary practices,” the Naga Hoho said.
“No Act of Parliament can be impose upon the Nagas unless the state Assembly legislate the same and therefore such statements undermines the right of the Naga people,” the Naga Hoho said.
