The Rising People’s Party (RPP) has expressed strong opposition to the proposed nomination of two individuals from the Muslim and Gorkha communities to the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), as recommended by Advisors Zhaleo Rio and Tovihoto Ayemi. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the RPP voiced concerns over the move, emphasizing the need to prioritize indigenous tribal representation in such appointments.
The RPP highlighted that the Naga student community has already raised objections to the proposed nominations, citing valid concerns. The party stands in solidarity with these objections, stressing that nominations to the DMC should be restricted to individuals from the indigenous tribal communities of Nagaland, which include not only Naga tribes but also non-Naga indigenous tribes such as Kukis, Garos, and Kacharis.
In addition, the RPP urged the Peoples’ Democratic Alliance (PDA) government to refrain from appointing non-Nagas as the replacement Gaon Bura (GB) for New Market, a position left vacant by the recent passing of GB Talukdar. “There is no necessity in playing appeasement politics when the future of the indigenous tribals are at stake due to unchecked mass immigration of aliens,” it said.
The RPP also called on the state government to issue a fresh notification to replace the existing GB appointment notification dated April 9, 2010. The party criticized the current notification as being vague and full of loopholes, particularly due to the omission of the terms “Indigenous” and “Tribal.” The RPP recommended that any new notification should clearly state that only indigenous tribal citizens of Nagaland are eligible for GB appointments. The party further suggested that for non-Naga, non-tribal indigenous inhabitants, alternative titles such as “Representatives” could be used instead of “GB” in urban areas.
“These are some of the points on which there is overwhelming consensus and as such calling for a consultative meeting with the stakeholders is not at all required,” it added.