Naga political groups (NPGs) including NSCN (I-M) and WC, NNPGs have slammed Nagaland government’s Office Memorandum (OM) dated July 7, 2020 directing all administrative heads and heads of departments to obtain information from all employees in a ‘self-declaration’ form, whether any of the employees have their family members and relatives in the underground organizations.
NSCN (I-M) through its MIP said the directive was considered to be “one retrograde step worked out insidiously” to cripple the Naga political movement and forcefully bring the Naga political issue under the purview of ‘law and order’ issue. Denouncing the directives, NSCN (I-M) said it was nothing but desperate attempt to “browbeat Naga freedom fighters into submission.” It stated that such “a despicable directive” stood incompatible with the spirit of “Indo-Naga” peace process. (Full text on p-6)
WC, NNPGs expressed deep concern over the chief secretary’s order and likened the move to “profiling of national workers through government employees”.
WC, NNPGs through its media cell described the order as “unprecedented, ominous” and said it required a second look.
WC alleged that the state government has “proved yet again that it is a remorseless gang of political lunatics and buffoons, at the mercy of dirty number game, bereft of reasoning or conscience to cling to power.”
Asserting that currently there could be more than one lakh government employees in Nagaland, WC claimed that every single one from HoD down to grade IV employee had “blood relative standing for the Naga national cause.” WC asserted that the first form must be filled up by Nagaland state cabinet, legislators and all heads of departments “since all comes under the purview of the same order.”
(Full text on p-6)
Meanwhile, the Naga Hoho has termed the July 7,2020 directives from Chief secretary to all state government employees as “shocking and beyond comprehension”. It may be noted that the directive to all employees was to self-declare whether any of them have their family members and relatives in the underground organizations.
NH Communication Cell reminded that ever since the first assembly election, every political party had clearly enshrined the pursuit of solution to the Naga political issue in their manifestos. It said even at various sessions, the state assembly had adopted resolutions over the issue.
NH said even today every individual and organisation claimed to be stakeholders in the Naga political problem on the issue of political settlement.
It said Nagas- be it government servants or laymen have contributed in one way or the other to the Naga movement and in one way or the other, most have suffered the consequences directly or indirectly.
NH said even after more than 70 years of Naga political struggle, no government either at the Centre of state have ever asked employees for such a declaration.
NH said it questioned the wisdom of those at the helm of power for issuing “such irresponsible orders” which only caused employees to feel insecure despite their dedicated services adding such an order implied “lack of trust and confidence on its employees”.
NH has appealed to the Governor of Nagaland to clarify on why NPGs should be termed as “armed gangs” and the state government to explain the reason behind the “self -declaration by government employees.”