The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF), the apex body representing the eight tribes of Eastern Nagaland, has issued a strong rebuttal to the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA), accusing it of overstepping its mandate and attempting to interfere in the affairs of the Eastern region.
In a statement issued from Tuensang, the federation expressed “strongest indignation and outrage” over what it described as ANSTA’s “audacious and unwarranted attempt” to “question, challenge, or even comment upon the directives, authority, and mandate of a tribally constituted apex organisation like the ENSF.”
The federation stated that the “so-called” ANSTA, being “a mere welfare grouping of government employees belonging to a single department,” lacked any “recognition, legitimacy, or jurisdiction within the Eastern Region.”
The ENSF went on to assert that ANSTA’s statements were “null, void, and inconsequential” in matters concerning Eastern tribes.
The ENSF maintained that it stands “far above and beyond the so-called ANSTA or any other welfare association in the State” and that its “legacy, achievements, and continued authority are testament to its unquestionable position and legitimacy as the voice and guardian of the Eastern people.”
It further questioned the association’s standing, asking pointedly, “What is ANSTA? By what authority, on whose mandate, and with what legitimacy does it presume to challenge or question the directive of the ENSF in a region where it holds no acceptance and no respect?”
According to the federation, ANSTA’s recent actions amounted to a “direct affront to the sovereignty, dignity, and tribal authority of the ENSF.”
“The Federation views this as a calculated attempt to provoke, discredit, and destabilize the tribal educational structure that ENSF has painstakingly safeguarded for decades,” it added.
ALSO READ | ANSTA clarifies legitimacy of pen-down strike, counters ENSF circular
The statement warned that the federation “shall not remain silent nor lenient” and would take “stringent and uncompromising actions” to protect its members, institutions, and student community from external interference or manipulative designs of any organizations.
The ENSF stated that it remains “unflinching, unbending, and unwavering in its mission to reform and uplift the education system that has for decades suffered under neglect, disparity, and discrimination”and that it continues to act as a “mediator, protector, and reformer, ensuring fairness, accountability, and discipline in the system.”
The ENSF also declared that it would no longer “entertain, respond to, or recognize any directive, appeal, or communication from ANSTA or any of its functionaries within the Eastern jurisdiction.”
The ENSF reminded the teaching community that the federation had always stood by teachers during difficult times, particularly when they were “exploited by illegal forces through illegitimate and coercive practices.” It said the ENSF has “consistently protected the sanctity of education and the dignity of teachers, even when others chose silence and complacency.”
It went on to condemn what it described as the “arrogant, provocative, and intimidatory posturing” of the ANSTA towards an apex tribal organization, declaring such behavior “unacceptable, intolerable, and condemnable in the strongest terms.”
ALSO READ | ENSF objects to ANSTA pen-down strike in Eastern Nagaland
Reiterating its warning, the ENSF stated that any further attempt by ANSTA to “undermine, challenge, or interfere” with its directives would invite “decisive and immediate retaliation.” It added that the federation would not hesitate to issue withdrawal orders against any citizen under its jurisdiction who associates with or supports ANSTA or any organization acting against the federation’s directive.
The statement also cautioned all citizens of Eastern Nagaland to remain alert and “resistant against the influence of any vested individuals or external forces attempting to manipulate the community under the guise of welfare activism.”
It directed all its federating units to ensure that “no school or teacher under their jurisdiction takes part in ANSTA’s order for a pen-down strike,” warning that any defiance would invite disciplinary action, including permanent disassociation from the privileges extended by ENSF.
Reaffirming its role as the “mediator, protector, and reformer” of the education system in Eastern Nagaland, the federation reminded the teaching community that ENSF had historically stood by teachers “when illegal forces exploited them through illegitimate and coercive practices.”
The statement concluded by cautioning all Eastern citizens to remain vigilant against “vested individuals or external forces” attempting to influence the community. The ENSF reaffirmed its commitment to defend the sanctity of education, protect student rights, and uphold justice and dignity with “unyielding resolve, formidable authority, and absolute command.”
