Public of Shamator under the aegis of Yimkhiung Tribal Council on December 23 participated in the mega rally demanding district upgradation. (DIPR Photo)
Shamator, December 28 (MExN): The Yimkhiung people have written an open letter to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, asking him to honour a ‘gentleman’s assurance’ reportedly given prior to the 58 Shamator-Chessore Assembly Constituency by-election in October this year.
According to the letter, the Chief Minister had, in the presence of Cabinet colleagues and senior party leaders, “assured the YTC and all the intending candidates to upgrade Shamator ADC Hq unconditionally to a full-fledged district if NDPP candidate is elected unopposed. [Sic]” it said that the Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC), “honouring a gentleman’s assurance,” fulfilled the CM’s wishes in letter and spirit, and questioned the rationale behind the delay on the part of the government.
Stating that the Yimkhiungrüs have long desired to live under one district incorporating all Yimkhiung administrative headquarters, the letter maintained that the Yimkhiungrüs, based on the pre-poll assurance, “have been impatiently waiting for declaration of Shamator district.” However, it said that the “government has been procrastinating citing varied reasons which do not seem to be applicable for creation of other districts except for upgradation of Shamator district.”
The Yimkhiungrüs feel humiliated and expresses its utmost resentment for the betrayal meted towards the tribe, stated the letter which was appended by the Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) President Throngso Yimkhiung, Yimkhiung Akherü Arihako (YAA) President Achung Jangleh, Yimkhiung Women Organisation President Shojila Richard, and Yimkhiung GBs Union President Lakiumong.
In this context, the letter demanded that the Chief Minister honour his assurance and fulfil the aspirations of the Yimkhiungrüs before December 31, 2021, failing which, the YTC and its frontal organisations would “direct all the NDPP party workers including the incumbent MLA of 58 Shamator-Chessore AC to resign en-masse latest by January 5, 2022.”
Intending candidates appeal
In another letter addressed to the Chief Minister, intending candidates to the October by-election also referred to the CM’s pre-poll assurance to upgrade Shamator ADC headquarter to a district. The candidates—R Tohanba, K Yimso, W Akhum, H Mukam, L Thronghokiu, Dokiu Kecham, and Rukkiumong, expressed gratitude that the upgradation of ADC Shamator to a full-fledged district has been approved in principle. “However, we regret that the ‘approval in principle’ is subject to various conditions which are not as per the terms and conditions that had been arrived between the state government and the intending candidates in presence of YTC,” the letter stated.
The candidates further appealed the CM to “uphold the gentleman’s promise” by way of issuing the proper notification declaring the upgradation of ADC Shamator into a district before December 31.
