Dimapur, 25 July (MTNews): The Western Sumi Hoho has expressed “extreme displeasure and shock” over the recently constituted Ministerial Group on Petroleum and Natural Gas (2023-2028) led by the chief minister as its chairman, stating that not a single Sumi legislator was included in it.
“This discriminatory attitude shows the biases towards the Sumis and an insult to the Sumi people as a whole,” the WSH stated.
The hoho further added that the Western Sumi area spans a sizable portion of territories in three districts of Dimapur, Niuland and Chumoukedima and is richly blessed with natural resources, mainly petroleum and gas.
“This move is a deceitful and a sinister attempt designed to sideline the Sumis from decision making and exclude us to not be a part of such important projects in the state,” it added.
Therefore, in light of this, the Western Sumi Hoho asked the government to reconsider its decision and add one of the Sumi legislators from the Western Sumi area to the group.
“If this is not done, the Sumis of the Western areas will vehemently oppose and halt any development activities related to petroleum and natural gas in our areas for which the state government will be fully responsible,” the WSH added.
It may be recalled that the Governor of Nagaland announced the constitution of a Ministerial Group on Petroleum & Natural Gas on 24 July with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as the Chairman and Nagaland Chief Secretary as the member secretary.
The ministerial group also includes the following as members: TR Zeliang, Deputy Chief Minister, P&T; Temjen Imna Along, Minister Tourism, Higher Education; Mhathung Yanthan, Advisor Agriculture; A Pangjung Jamir, Advisor Fisheries & Aquatic Resource; and W Chingang Konyak, Advisor G&M.