The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland Legislature Party (DANLP) on Friday appealed to the National Tribal Action Committee (NTAC) and Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) to lift the indefinite shutdown.
The appeal came after the Naga tribal groups threatened to intensify their agitation after Chief Minister TR Zeliang refused to accede to their demand for his resignation and their three-day ultimatum in this regard ended on Friday.
The two Naga tribal bodies had served a three-day ultimatum to Zeliang to step down following the government's decision to hold local bodies elections with 33 per cent reservation for women in 12 towns across the state and the death of two persons in clashes between the police and protestors at Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, on the night of 31 January.
Zeliang Refuses to Step Down
“The DAN Legislature Party resolved to appeal to the agitating groups to lift the indefinite shutdown, and take up the offer for dialogue being extended by the state government in the true spirit of democratic practices so as to bring about amicable resolution to the ULB issue in the State,” a statement issued from Chief Minister’s Office stated.
The DAN Legislature Party, which held an emergency meeting this evening at the State Banquet Hall, discussed the present situation and came to the conclusion that the issue of election to the Urban Local Bodies is over with the entire process having been declared null and void, and that the stage now is set for dialogue and negotiations on the future course of action to be taken in this regard.
The NTAC leader, however, warned:
If Zeliang does not step down, we have no other option but to further intensify our agitation in the form of an indefinite total shutdown which will affect all educational institutions, markets and functioning of banks.
Zeliang, who flew back to Nagaland on Friday morning after meeting Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday evening, had reiterated he would not not step down.
However, Naga People's Front legislator Neiphrezo Keditsu had last week submitted his resignation as Chairman of Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation (NSMDC) Limited on moral grounds since one of the persons killed in the Dimapur police firing was from his village.
Nagaland Hasn’t Elected a Single Woman Legislator Since 1963
The Chief Minister had explained Singh the ground reality of the on-going face off between the NTAC and the government, and the ensuing shutdown which have affected the normal day to day life.
Zeliang also briefed the Home Minister about how his government, determined to fulfill the Constitutional obligation of holding polls to the civic bodies, had initiated the process after several tribal organisations expressed their support to holding of elections to the ULBs with 33 per cent reservation of seats for women, and how these organisations took a U-Turn after the polls were announced.
Nagaland has never elected a woman legislator since it gained statehood in 1963. The lone woman member of Parliament from the state was Rano M. Shaiza, who got elected in 1977.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Police chief LL Doungel told IANS that police are keeping a close watch on the strike and will function accordingly.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)