The Young Nagas Action Committee for Foothills Road has expressed “deep dismay and disappointment” over the Nagaland state government’s decision to exclude the Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) from the upcoming consultative meeting on April 30, 2025, concerning the Foothills Road project.
In a statement issued by its convenor, R Sunep Pongen, the Committee said, “The NFHRCC has been the sole and consistent body overseeing and championing the Foothills Road initiative since its inception for more than a decade ago. It has worked tirelessly to coordinate efforts, mobilize public support, and ensure that this vital infrastructural project is not lost in bureaucratic inertia or political neglect.”
Calling the exclusion “deeply unfortunate and unacceptable,” the Young Nagas Action Committee stated, “This exclusion not only undermines the invaluable contributions and sacrifices made by the Committee but also raises serious questions about the government’s sincerity and transparency in handling the Foothills Road issue.”
The Committee urged the state government “to acknowledge the pivotal role played by the NFHRCC and to rectify this oversight without delay.” It further stressed that “constructive dialogue and genuine inclusivity are essential if we are to see real progress on the ground.”
“We stand in solidarity with the NFHRCC and call upon all right-thinking citizens to raise their voices in support of accountability and justice in the pursuit of infrastructural development in Nagaland,” the statement concluded.
The statement was issued by the Media Cell of the Young Nagas Action Committee for Foothills Road on April 25, 2025.