Dimapur, June 25 (MExN): The Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) of the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) on Thursday maintained that it has undertaken a transparent and inclusive stakeholder consultation process on the implementation of the Inner Line Regulation (ILR) in Nagaland, ensuring equal opportunity for all concerned organisations to participate.
In a statement, the Commission said it had issued official communications and a public notice inviting non-local organisations to take part in the consultations, recognising that the implementation of the ILR affects various stakeholders and that their views deserve to be heard.
The Commission informed that it had already completed day-long interactive consultations with the Marwari Samaj, the Muslim Council and the Bengali Samaj on June 13.
It asserted that any organisation which chose not to respond or participate despite being officially notified could not subsequently claim that it had been denied an opportunity to present its views, concerns or recommendations before the Commission.
According to the NSF, organisations representing the interests of their respective communities also have a responsibility to engage constructively on issues of public importance, adding that remaining absent from the consultations is a conscious decision for which the concerned organisation alone must bear responsibility.
The Commission said it would continue with the consultation process and formulate its recommendations based on the views and submissions received from participating stakeholders. It added that the absence of any organisation would not diminish the legitimacy or credibility of the consultative process.
Reiterating its commitment to an inclusive process, the Commission maintained that meaningful dialogue is founded on participation rather than commentary after the fact, and said organisations that decline the opportunity to engage during the consultations should not expect the Commission to revisit its recommendations on the grounds that they were not heard when reasonable opportunities had been extended.
