The protest led by the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) and the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) entered its fifth day on Tuesday, as demonstrators continued their peaceful sit-in outside the Directorate of Higher Education in Kohima.
Despite a visibly lower turnout compared to previous days, the protestors remained steadfast, raising slogans and reiterating their three core demands– revocation of the government order regularising 147 contractual assistant professors, disbandment of the recently formed High Powered Committee (HPC), and requisition of all contractual posts regularised after June 6, 2016, to the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC). The protest resumed Tuesday, following the state government’s failure to address the demands placed by the aspirants.
The demonstrators maintained that the regularisation process undermined merit-based recruitment and violated the principles of equal opportunity.
NSF launches phase-1 protest: Meanwhile, in a significant development during the day, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) commenced its own phase-1 of democratic agitation, following the expiry of a seven-day ultimatum served to the state government on April 21.
The NSF launched its protest with an initiation programme at Solidarity Park here, which was followed by a rally to the Directorate of Higher Education. Participants included NSF functionaries, representatives of federating units, and college students.
Draped in traditional attire, the protestors carried placards and banners, expressing solidarity with the demand for transparency and meritocracy in the state’s higher education recruitment process.
Tension briefly flared when NSF protesters attempted to picket the office premises. undreds of police personnel in riot gear, deployed to maintain order, prevented the crowd from advancing. A minor scuffle ensued as protestors tried to push through the police line, but the situation was quickly brought under control. In spite of continuous rain, NSF volunteers stood alongside aspirants from CTAN and NNQF.
A brief misunderstanding arose between the two groups when some volunteers reportedly attempted to stop the aspirants from displaying their banners. However, after some negotiations, the issue was resolved amicably.
Later in the day, NSF members staged a symbolic burning of an effigy labelled “corruption” in front of the directorate to denounce what they termed as systemic irregularities in government appointments.
Security remained tight throughout the day, with police personnel and district administration officials on site to manage any fallout.
NSF office-bearers informed the media that a presidential meeting was held later in the evening with all federating units at the federation’s office to deliberate on the next steps.
They said the agitation was likely to intensify in the coming days if their demands were not addressed by the state government. In separate statements, CTAN, NNQF and NSF described their ongoing protest as a fight for fairness and integrity of academic recruitment process in Nagaland.