The Naga Students Federation’s ultimatum to the Nagaland government on the proposed Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) came under severe flak from various civil society groups and some student bodies of the State.
On February 22, the federation issued an ultimatum, which was signed by its president and general secretary besides leaders of its 15 federating units, including those from Manipur, to the government demanding approval and implementation of the NSSB policy forwarded to the government by the board committee.
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In a statement on Sunday, the Konyak Union Mon termed as ‘unfortunate’ the federation’s ultimatum to the government.
Union’s general secretary Wango Konyak and press secretary Pangmei Konyak said, “Such domestic and reformative thoughts should have been rooted after thorough debate and consultation within the State.”
The union said implementing such policy required ‘tribal endorsement’ since Nagaland is a tribal state.
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It said the signatories of the ultimatum which included ‘our Naga brethren from Manipur seem lost and confused on this very practical issue’.
The union added it should be left to the Nagaland government and its citizens to determine the system of governance and execution.
The Konyak Students Union also opposed the NSF’s inclusion of signatories in the memorandum from Manipur.
The Central Nagaland Students’ Association expressed pain and dismay over the ‘threat’ issued to the State Government in the form of the ultimatum by ‘persons’ and ‘organisations’ that have nothing to do with Nagaland.
The association said the NSF by issuing the ultimatum had undermined the ‘intelligentsia of the Nagas of Nagaland’.
It sought immediate clarification from the federation as to why it resorted to issuing the ultimatum to the Nagaland government using other people and organizations, ‘undermining the Nagas of Nagaland’.
The Dimapur Ao Youth Organization also opposed the NSF’s ultimatum.
The Western Sumi Hoho said though the stand of NSF against ‘rampant backdoor appointments’ is for a better cause but ‘involving outsiders as a part of the signatories in an internal issue of our state has raised a big question amongst all the tribes of Nagaland’.
With regard to matters of governance, there is a clear cut demarcation between Nagaland and other neighbouring states.
“Why some other tribes from neighbouring states should meddle in our business and affairs?” the hoho asked.
It said Nagaland is governed by 14 tribes.
“So, we do not need any support or interference from outsiders,” it maintained.
The Central Nagaland Tribes Council has supported Central Nagaland Students’ Association’s demand that the NSF must clarify inclusion of outsiders as signatories in the ultimatum.
In a statement, the council said this is a serious issue that had troubled the Nagas for long and needed to be addressed properly.