Nagaland Governor P.B.Acharya had immediately responded to the fervent plea from the women leaders under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) to intervene in the prevailing situation where all apex tribe organisations have objected to the holding of the municipal and town council polls under 33% women reservation before resolving the matter.
A Raj Bhavan communiqué, informed that the Governor invited Naga Hoho besides APO to discuss the issue. In the first meeting with Naga Hoho president P.Chuba Ozukum and federal secretary Elu Ndang, the Governor appealed to the Hoho and all others to “accommodate and understand the situation” and allow election to be held as any intimidation and threats and excommunication were against the democratic spirit.
The Governor maintained that 33% reservation in municipal/town council elections should be allowed to proceed as per the law and people should be “broad minded” and instead all should whole heartedly support it.
In response NH president Chuba Ozukum informed the Governor that the Hoho executive has delegated respective tribal hohos to take decisions while suggesting that the state government also called on all tribal hohos for consultations and extend date for filing of nominations, in case it was possible under the Act.
Since the date for filing nominations ends on January 7 the Governor appealed to all to abide by the rules and no untoward incident should take place.
In a meeting with APO president Dr.vilhusa Seleyi and seven officer bearers, the Governor appealed to APO to follow the law and allow civic polls to go ahead since they were announced by the state government to protect and preserve the democratic ideals of Nagaland.
JACWR: In a press statement, received by this newspaper only on January 6, Joint Action Committee Women Reservation (JACWR) convenor Mrs.Abeiu Meru and Co-convenor Dr.Rosemary Dzuvichu drew the attention of the Governor and the state government to the prevailing situation of calls for boycott of the civic polls and threats and intimidation by some tribe organisations on intending candidate including women.
The two leaders reiterated that Naga women were not confronting or challenging men but only fighting for their rights guaranteed under 243T of the constitution that has been in force since 1993 and later ratified by the state assembly to include women reservation in 2006.
They said JACWR had clarified to Naga Hoho, ENPO, APO and others about the constitutional right as mandated by the 2006 Act.
JACWR also pointed out that the Supreme Court had on April 5,2016 stayed the judgment of the Division Bench of the High Court and revived an earlier order of a Single Bench in October 2011.They also said the Supreme Court had maintained that reservation for women in civic bodies “does not infringe on Article 371A.”
Considering the above stated facts, JACWR said the “ latest threats from certain tribe organisations, to excommunicate candidates who dare file nominations is shocking and objectionable.” They said excommunication as per Naga custom is done only for highest crimes like murder, rape when “sacrosanct rules are violated.” JACWR asked whether exercise of political rights was equated with right to severest action?