The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), has on Wednesday reiterated its appeal to the people of Nagaland with a call for exclusive indigenous representation in the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections stating that its advocacy is beyond Naga Municipal Act to protect the identity of Nagas of Nagaland state.
Addressing a press conference here at NSF office Kohima, Mteisuding, Vice President NSF underscored the need to ensure that the voices and aspirations of the indigenous Naga populace are authentically represented in all decision-making processes and reiterated their firm stand on the indigenous representation in municipal and town councils.
He maintained that the federation, advocates for “Nagas by blood, not by adoption,” while they reiterated the earlier press statement and the appeal made on June 11.
Against the backdrop of the Federation’s statement, they noted that there are certain candidacies in fray for the election, and taking note of this, the Federation has appealed to the public of the state to see the matter in which manner the Naga representatives can be accommodated in the decision making- ULB.
“It is up to the wisdom of the Nagas to decide and safeguard the identity, customs and traditions of the Nagas,” he added.
The Federation also stated that the issue pertains to ULB election with Nagas of Nagaland state and expounded that Naga women married to non-locals in this election should not be allowed to contest while they claimed that there are such candidacies in the election.
General Secretary Chumben Khuvung said NSF has nothing to do with Indian election nor is bias neither to detect any individuals but to protect the rights and interests of the Naga indigenous people.
He expounded that the NSF context in this ULB election is reserved and confined to indigenous of Nagaland state and as such Naga women married to Nagas of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal or Burma (Myanmar) are also not applicable to contest the election.
Read more: Contest in ULB elections must be reserved solely for indigenous Naga individuals: NSF
Adding ‘Nagas by blood and not Nagas by adoption’ a non-local adopted by a Naga family is also not applicable for the election according to the stand of the NSF besides, Naga women married to other non-local and their offspring should become a non-local according to the customary, tradition and culture of the Nagas and such candidature are also not applicable to the ULB election.
However, against such appeal made by the NSF in domain there are cases reportedly from Dimapur and Kohima that have filed nomination numbering to three candidature that are non-indigenous Nagas and women married to non-locals.
Furthermore, the Federation was also informed to have disseminated its appeal to the tribal hohos while acknowledging that in some districts some candidates have paid heed to the appeal made by the federation and refrain from the filling their nominations.
