Rajesh Kumar Sethi, Nagaland Congress leader and AICC Minority Department National Coordinator in charge of Manipur, addressed the closing session of the Linguistic Minority Forum of Nagaland today. During his speech, he raised critical concerns about the treatment of non-Naga communities in the state.
Sethi commended Dr Chumben Murry, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, for suggesting the renaming of the forum to the “Non-Naga Linguistics Forum of Nagaland” instead of using the term “Minority.” He welcomed this change, stating that the term “Non-Local” has caused significant distress within the community.
However, Sethi expressed his disappointment over the proposal to grant non-Nagas only Domicile and Permanent Resident status instead of recognizing them as Non-Naga Indigenous inhabitants. “Non-Nagas have lived in Nagaland since the 1880s and have significantly contributed to its economic, social, and cultural development. Just as Nagas are officially recognized as indigenous, non-Nagas who have lived here for generations should be granted the same status,” he argued.
Sethi further criticized the reservation system in Nagaland’s medical colleges, where 80% of seats are reserved for Nagas and 20% for outsiders. This system, he pointed out, leaves no room for non-Nagas who have been residing in the state for decades. He called for urgent government intervention to ensure equitable access to education for long-term residents.
In addition, Sethi highlighted the negative impact of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) extension to Dimapur in 2019, which he argued has marginalized non-Nagas by restricting their freedom to live and work. “ILP should be enforced for illegal immigrants, not for permanent residents,” he stated, also pointing out that land ownership restrictions are forcing non-Nagas to sell their properties, contributing to an exodus from the state. He called on the government to acknowledge these struggles and grant long-term settlers land rights for their security.
Sethi also acknowledged the efforts of Congress leader and MP Supongmeren Jamir for seeking additional parliamentary seats for minorities. He expressed his gratitude to Dr SC Jamir for urging the political parties to allocate the Dimapur-I assembly seat as an open category for non-Nagas, ensuring fair political representation.
Reflecting on his own family’s historical contributions, Sethi shared the legacy of his great-grandfather, who settled in Kohima in the 1880s, and his grandfather, Kanayalal Sethi, who was honored as the First Gaon Bura of Dimapur.