KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 18 (MExN): The Naga Hoho (NH) and Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) have issued a legal notice to one Anandita Singh, a research scholar at the Centre for North East Studies, Benaras Hindu University with regard to her article titled ‘Naga Hoho- The Babbling Brook of Nagaland’ which was published on online portals in August, 2020.
A joint statement from the Naga Hoho and the NMA said that the article is “false, frivolous and vexatious with an intention to cause damages, defame and tarnish the image and reputation of Naga Hoho and NMA inciting hatred amongst the civil societies of the Nagas and the outside world.”
The legal notice, which was sent on August 27 called for the research scholar to comply with the notice within a period of 15 days of receipt. The notice was delivered on September 12 at New Delhi, it informed.
“The author has cast aspersions on the integrity of the Naga Hoho and NMA without verifying the veracity of the facts at hand by inciting the defamatory statements against the organization,” the Naga Hoho and NMA alleged.
The organizations further said that the author portrayed a picture which shows them in “very poor light and raises negative question marks over the organizations’ integrity and principles.”
The article had termed the Naga Hoho and NMA as “puppet organization…which have zero support from the people of Nagaland.”
It further said that “Naga Hoho claims to be an apex body of the Naga tribes, while in reality it is meek puppet in the hands of insurgent outfit NSCN (IM).” The article also alleged that the Naga Hoho and NMA “have zero credibility and zero support,” while claiming that “these organizations are only creating chaos and hungry to stay in power, to harass and extort the people of Nagaland.”
The NH & NMA said that they are “legitimate organization working for a common platform towards reconciliation by upholding the solidarity and unity of the Naga people, to preserve and promote social, cultural, economic and political heritage, to promote fraternity and unity securing lasting peace and justice under a common order and to promote all round growth of the Naga people.”
The joint statement informed that the Naga Hoho has met various authorities in India with representations and memorandums in pursuance of early political settlement and have reached out to various International forums for protecting Naga political rights.
It added that the NMA’s objectives are to be peacemakers, peace builders and peacekeepers. “With the slogan ‘Shed No More Blood,’ the NMA has stood against all killings by Indian armed forces and Naga political groups to peace and understanding as Naga Mothers. It has reached out to successive leaders in the GoI to bring a resolution on the Naga peace process and supported all peace initiatives by the various people,” it stated.
The statement said that the article amounts to both civil and criminal defamation under section 499 of IPC, punishable under section 500 of the code with imprisonment.
The legal notice urged the author to immediately withdraw all allegations and aspersions made against the organizations; stop sharing, withdraw and desist from making/publishing any more false, malicious and defamatory remarks/articles against the said organizations; remove the article that has been uploaded in the website as well as similar articles published either online/or print forum; and tender unconditional public apology through print and electronic media.
“In case of failure to comply with the notice within the stipulated period of legal notice, we shall pursue legal action, civil as well as criminal in the appropriate court of law,” informed Naga Hoho President, HK Zhimomi and NMA President, Abeiu Meru.
