Resolves to oppose appointment of unelected ULBs
Mokokchung, 29 March (MTNews): The apex Ao Senden has lauded the Nagaland Legislative Assembly for repealing in toto the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001.
The Nagaland state assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution repealing the Act with immediate effect following strong opposition to the holding of urban local body elections in the state by Naga tribal bodies without amending the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001, citing sections of the Act that infringed on Article 371A.
The legislature also decided to enact a new law expeditiously to govern the urban local bodies that will take into consideration once and for all the grievances of all the interested parties so that the elections could be conducted in accordance with the law.
It may be recalled that the State Election Commission had earlier on 9 March notified elections to the ULBs in the state to be held on 16 May with 33% reservation of seats for women.
The Executive Council of the Ao Senden at a consultative meeting with several organizations in Mokokchung on Wednesday adopted a set of six resolutions.
At the meeting, it was resolved that the Ao Naga community appreciates the Nagaland Legislative Assembly for honoring the opinion of the Naga people and repealing the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 in toto on 28 March, 2023.
It further resolved to appeal to the Government, in writing, to invite representatives from all the Naga tribal hohos for consultation as and when the Government of Nagaland drafts a new Nagaland Municipal Act bill so as to ensure that it does not infringe on the provisions of Article 371A.
The meeting also decided that if the Government of Nagaland in the future were to undertake any initiative in respect of this Act undermining the rights of the Naga people, then no Ao Naga citizen will participate in such an initiative and that, in such a scenario, no ULB election shall be allowed to be conducted within the Ao Naga territorial jurisdiction.
The meeting further resolved to oppose appointment of unelected Urban Local Bodies in within its territorial jurisdiction. “If the Government of Nagaland were to appoint or nominate any Advisor, Committee, Councilor or the like for the ULBs prior to enacting an appropriate Nagaland Municipal Act by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, then such appointment/nomination shall not be accepted within the Ao Naga territorial jurisdiction,” the Ao Senden resolved.
The meeting further resolved that, if the Government of Nagaland were to appoint or nominate any Advisor, Committee, Councilor or the like for the ULBs prior to enacting an appropriate Nagaland Municipal Act by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, then such appointment/nomination shall not be accepted within the Ao Naga territorial jurisdiction.
The meeting further reiterated and reaffirmed the earlier resolutions adopted by Ao Senden in respect of the ULBs.
The various organizations that attended the joint meeting with the Ao Senden Executive Council included Landowners’ Board Mokokchung Town officers; All Ward Union Mokokchung Town officers; All Ward Union CHangtongya Town officers; Tuli Town Ward Union officers; and All Ward Chairman Association Mangkolemba Town officers.
Three members each from Akhoya Village Council, Changtongya Village Council, Merangkong Village Council, Wamaken Village Council, Kangtsung Village Council, Khar Village Council, and Longjemdang Village Council also attended the meeting.