Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) alleged that the move by the state government through the DC Kohima with regard to publication of draft updated list of non-Naga local indigenous “Nepal/Gorkha” residents under Kohima district with June 11, 2016 as qualifying date, was “another mischievous attempt” to subvert the rights Naga people “for reasons known only to them.”
Reacting to the DC’s notification, CNTC through its media cell said the notification also violated the Nagaland government’s standing notification dated April 28, 1978, which clearly maintained the cut-off year for the purpose of recognizing indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland as December 1, 1963.
CNTC also pointed out even the Nagaland Gorkha Association (NGA) in its submission to commission on RIIN on September 24, 2019 had asked for two cut-off dates (December 31, 1940 and December 1, 1963).
CNTC therefore said that DC Kohima, by arriving at June 11, 2016 as qualifying date was “simply an atrocious decision laced with some other ulterior motives.”
It also stated that the DCs of Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland were also supposed to have issued similar notifications “imposing their own qualifying dates.”
In this regard, the CNTC has urged the state government to immediately direct the DCs to withdraw the notifications so to avoid further complications and social unrest which could follow.
CNTC also demanded implementation of RIIN with December 1, 1963 as the single cut-off date without any further delay.
It stated that RIIN was the brainchild of chief minister Neiphiu Rio, for which the commission on RIIN chaired by Banuo Z Jamir had done a “wonderful job” in compiling and reporting its findings to the state government.
CNTC, therefore concluded that, there was no reason for chief minister to dither and delay implementation of RIIN if he was concerned for the people of Nagaland and its future generations.