Kohima village council writes to CM, says KMC election shall not be held till reservation is revoked
Dimapur, March 14 (MExN): A village council in Kohima today demanded revocation of the 33% Reservation for Women in the civic institutions, and then “installing a popular municipal and town councils” at the earliest. The council, Kohima Village Council, issued a copy of a representation addressed to the Chief Minister of Nagaland today cautioning that in the event the demand is not met, “Kohima villagers” may be “compelled to demonstrate/exhibit its displeasure.”
The village council said to have adopted a resolution during a meeting held February 29, 2012 concerning the reservation quota. “… Considering our contention as substantiated above the KVC appeal to the government to revoke the Act during this on going assembly session and also take immediate step in installing a popular municipal and town councils in all earnestness. However, in the event of failing to comply to our demand the Kohima villagers may be compelled to demonstrate/exhibit its displeasure,” the council said.
The council said there are “certain issues in which the people should be taken into confidence and be consulted first, since the land and its resources belongs to the people and not the government.” The council claimed that the reservation itself is a discrimination and thus “depriving the democratic rights of the men folks in their own ancestral land which was earned from time immemorial through bloodshed, moreover, it goes against our way of living and consequently it will widen the gap between men and women.”
The council said that the government decision to enforce 33% Women Reservation will “definitely destroy the very fabric of the Naga society.” What the council says it wants is that the government protect and uphold Article 371 (A) of the Constitution which provides for special privileges in regard to (i) religion or social practices of the Nagas (ii) Naga customary law and procedure etc.
The council also claimed that “Naga women are not discriminated in any manner” and “caste, untouchablity, Sati and class system (are) unknown to us.” So, the KVC queried, “Why 33 % women reservation is required, when they are neither scheduled nor excluded from the purview of 100 % equality with men.”
Further, the council asserted, under Article 371 (A) of the constitution “Liberty is given to the Nagas to choose or reject any law formulated by Indian parliament if it does not suit our social and customary practices.” In such a juncture, the government needs to judiciously and “dispassionately” exercise “it’s statutory.”
“Therefore, in this episode of 33 % women reservation both ruling and opposition are equally responsible for the menace, at the same time both the political parties are answerable to Naga public. Why? Because it is the Congress who put the bullet into the barrel of the gun and the ruling party pulled the trigger in order to woo the women folk’s voters,” the council stated.
The representation appealed to the government to honor what the council claimed is the “the popular voice of the Nagas.” “In view of the above mentioned facts and in the larger interest of the citizens of the state capital it is imperative and duty bound on the part of KVC to give a clarion call that under any circumstances the Kohima Municipal Council election shall not be held till reservation is revoked.” The representation was appended by the council’s chairman Vilhouzhalie Dzüvichü and general secretary Razoupfelie Kire.
