Central Nagaland Students’ Association says Patton’s remark was not ill intended

Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) – Ao Students’ Conference (AKM), Lotha Students’ Union (LSU) and Sumi Kiphimi Kuqhakulu (SKK)- responded to the charge made against deputy chief minister Y. Patton by Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU) which alleged that the remark was “an ill intent” to create division among Nagas on tribal lines.
CNSA president Himato Yeptho and general secretary Lipemo M Tsopoe backed Patton and described that his speech at the CNTC meeting was “very positive manner and not intended to hurt the sentiments of the tribe”.
CNSA said Patton had clearly stated that the reservation policy should be implemented in a pocket-wise system in order to give equal opportunity to lower section of the society and give ample opportunity without any discrimination on tribal lines.
It said Patton had also remarked that some parts of Ao area (Mangkolemba area), Lotha (Bhandari area) and Sumi (Satoi areas) were the most backward where reservation was needed.
Hence, CNSA said it found Patton’s speech at the CNTC programme to have had no ill-intention towards the Chakhesang tribe. It said Patton’s speech was only an expression of concern over the present system of reservation policy which should unite Nagaland to go hand-in-hand without any bias to build a new Nagaland.
CNSA backed Patton’s statement and urged upon the government to review the reservation policy at the earliest. It also urged upon all right-thinking citizens not to misunderstand nor misinterpret Patton’s statement, but take things in a positive accord for future reformation in the government policies and work unitedly as brothers.