Having issued a detailed clarification to allegations by Dimapur Tribal Hoho Forum (DTHF), Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) declared that it will no longer respond to any query over the issue in the media but anyone having doubts may contact its office during working hours.
NCD president Etsungmomo Kikon and general secretary Thsapongkhyu in a joint rebuttal to DTHF on rejection of the five tribe’s councilors, stated that even after almost a month after the case was withdrawn from the high court, the five tribe hohos- Rengma Public Organisation Dimapur, Poumei Hoho Dimapur, Mao Hoho Dimapur, Tangkhul Hoho Dimapur and Western Chakhesang Hoho Dimapur neither approached NCD nor nominated their representatives/members to NCD.
NCD also pointed out that it had requested the all tribal hoho presidents to nominate fresh members vide NO.NCD/TRIBAL/2021/1-2/ dated 5/7/2021. However, NCD said that presidents of five tribal hohos totally rejected its directives through local paper on July 15, 2021 without any correspondences or consultation with NCD.
However, in order to facilitate nomination of all members, NCD said the last date for submission was extended from 15 July to July 22, 2021. In this regard, NCD said the Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD), acknowledged the request of NCD and so, on July 22 2021, nominated its two new members- N Joseph Lemtur and Imtisangba Aier, who subsequently took the oath and were inducted to NCD.
Further, NCD pointed out that RPOD already has its member—GK Rengma in NCD holding the post of vice president (council bench). NCD said RPOD did not nominate the other one member within the stipulated time. Also, it said Poumei Hoho Dimapur submitted an application nominating the earlier nominated members without being duly filled in prescribed format or undertaking statement countersigned by the president.
On Mao Hoho Dimapur and Tangkhul Hoho Dimapur, NCD said they also did not enclose the said undertaking statements countersigned by the respective presidents as directed by the NCD. Therefore, NCD said it did not accept their nominees.
With regard to Western Chakhesang Hoho Dimapur, NCD said the hoho re-nominated the previous nominated members who were involved in court case. NCD said it had passed several resolutions not to induct to NCD for the tenure 2020-2025 those members or associate members who had walked-out and did not take oath and also had gone to court against the NCD.
NCD stated that once a member was nominated by the tribal Hohos, the member has to be administered the NCD oath for induction in NCD as a Councillor, without which one cannot become a councillor.
NCD also said it could not remain suspended for so long, just because the five tribal bodies did not nominate their representatives as directed. Thus, as per the constitution under Article 8, the search/selection committee was set up to select a suitable candidate for the post of president which became vacant since December 11, 2020.
It said search committee convener K Francis presented the report to the house and approved unanimously on August 7, 2021. NCD said the newly elected president and the resultant vice president (admn) were installed on August 7, 2021 in the presence of tribal presidents/chairman and representatives from civil societies in Dimapur, DDCF, DUCCF, GB (Sadar) Union, NWHD and DNSU.
On August 7, 2021 NCD said the councillors had a threadbare deliberation on demand of the five tribal hohos seeking clarification from ASTD and NCD. After almost two-hour long discussion and deliberation, the councilors re-affirmed/reiterated the resolutions passed on August 29, 2020, March 2, 2021 and July 3, 2021 by councillors.
It said that the same resolution was again adopted by the councilors on August 7, 2021 that earlier nominated members, who walked out without oath taking and had gone to the court against NCD, will not be inducted to NCD for the tenure 2020-2025.
However, for nomination of fresh members from the five tribal Hohos, NCD said they could approach its office at any time.
NCD said it “stands firmly” on the resolutions and would function with “absolute majority” of 32 Councilors out of 41 represented by 15 tribal hohos/unions out of 19 affiliated tribes, two members from NWHD and one from DNSU.
NCD also provided the following list of tribal hohos/unions represented in NCD (two members each from– Konyak Union Dimapur, Chang Union Dimapur, Sangtam Union Dimapur, Phom Union Dimapur, Khiamniungan Union Dimapur, Yimchunger Union Dimapur, Lotha Hoho Dimapur, Sumi Council Dimapur, Chakhro Angami Kuda Union Dimapur, Rongmei Community Dimapur, Anal Hoho Dimapur, Zeliang People Organization Dimapur, Pochury Hoho Dimapur, Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur, Naga Woman Hoho Dimapur and one member each from Rengma Pubic Organization Dimapur and Dimapur Naga Students Union.