Sets 2 weeks time for govt to respond
The Five Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) has decided to defer its proposed agitation following a high-level meeting with the state government on Tuesday.
The committee has given the state government a deadline of two weeks– until June 17– to respond to its core demands, particularly the formation of an independent commission to review and restructure Nagaland’s reservation policy.
The meeting, held at the Civil Secretariat Conference Hall in Kohima, was chaired by deputy chief minister, in-charge of Home department, Y Patton. Cabinet ministers G. Kaito Aye, Metsubo Jamir, Salhoutuonuo Kruse, and Temjen Imna Along also attended, alongside chief secretary J. Alam and other senior officials. CoRRP was represented by five tribal delegates each from the Ao, Sumi, Angami, Lotha, and Rengma tribes, as well as office-bearers of the committee.
During the deliberations, the CoRRP reiterated its primary demand that the existing reservation policy for backward tribes that remained unchanged for the past 48 years be reviewed and scrapped.
The committee also expressed dissatisfaction with the current government-constituted panel on the issue, and instead called for the establishment of a full-fledged independent commission to address the matter comprehensively.
Sources present at the meeting informed Nagaland Post that the government responded positively to the concerns raised. It reportedly also requested the tribal bodies to withhold their proposed sit-in dharna and allow time for further internal discussions. In response, the representatives of CoRRP agreed to suspend their agitation plans until June 17, 2025.
Addressing media persons after the meeting, Patton stated that the government had sought a two-week period to determine whether or not a commission would be formed.
He said the cabinet would take up the matter and inform the tribal bodies accordingly. Patton acknowledged the cooperation of the tribal representatives and expressed gratitude for their willingness to keep the agitation in abeyance.
“We have just discussed the issue today and now we will have to take it to the chief minister and hold a cabinet meeting,” he stated, adding that once the cabinet had deliberated on the demands, the government would convey its decision to the five tribes committee, and a follow-up meeting would be held if necessary.
Later, in a telephonic conversation, CoRRP convener Tesinlo Semy informed this correspondent that it was mutually agreed during the meeting that the proposed agitation by the committee would be kept in abeyance until June 17, since the matter was to be taken up at the cabinet level.
He said the committee had clearly apprised the government of its demand—either to completely scrap the existing reservation policy or, if the government was unwilling to do so, reallocate the unreserved quota exclusively for the five tribes not currently covered under the reservation system.
On the issue of the recently-constituted government committee, Semy stated that the CoRRP had categorically rejected it. He pointed out that the government had in the past constituted at least seven such committees whose recommendations were either shelved or only partially implemented.
Due to this historical pattern, he stated that the committee felt that continuing with the current approach would likely result in a similar outcome, and hence reiterated the need for an independent commission.
Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, the Five Tribes CoRRP was reportedly preparing for a mass sit-in protest outside the Civil Secretariat from Wednesday, with plans to mobilise 500 representatives each from the Ao, Sumi, Angami, and Lotha tribes, and 250 from the Rengma tribe. However, the proposed agitation was temporarily put on hold following the government’s invitation to meet.
Following the meeting, CoRRP convener Tesinlo Semy and member secretary GK Zhimomi issued a press release stating the tribal representatives acknowledged the state government’s assurance that the demands outlined in their September 20, 2024 memorandum would be placed before the next cabinet meeting.
It was also assured that the government’s decision, including the possibility of establishing an independent commission on the reservation policy, would be communicated to them within the next fortnight.
They announced that the second phase of agitation would be suspended until June 17 in good faith and with the hope that the cabinet would take a well-considered decision based on the assurances made during the meeting.