A jaundiced Editorial

 Jonas Yanthan

I am surprised to come by the 25th July'10 Sunday Nagaland Post Editorial, "Conflict within". Though constraint to write, I am compelled to do so due to the fact that the editorial distorts the provision of the constitution while trying to defend the resolution of Anatongre Village Council and its subsequent 9th July incident by exploiting cheap and incongruous manipulative sentences and words. For instance, the Editorial adds an unnecessary superlative nuance to the village council such as "….Anatongre village, its council (the highest village authority)…." etc., to substantiate his version of village authority but we all understand that a village is a village and it is never above the Law. A village council, however important, is relevant only as long as it devotedly enforces the guidelines of the Secular and Welfare State that we have inherited.  And based on this, any village can be recognized or derecognized; its council can be dissolved and VDB fund allocation can be stopped by the administration. The argument of the editorial is illogical because it means to awfully suggest that every village in Nagaland is supreme, meaning above the Law.

A village council has the right to make any resolutions provided it is free from prejudice of creed or color, rich or poor, clan or religion within its jurisdiction that are beneficial to the well-being of every villager to safeguard the peace and unity of the village. However, this particular Anatongre Resolution is not only illegal but also cannot be called customary to the village because their forefathers never had an issue on religion. The resolution is plainly against creed and individual's freedom of religion which blatantly goes against the law. Therefore, the defense of Anatongre Village Council resolution in whatever language or connotations like unity and peace by any one including the elite Anatongre Village Union, Dimapur (AVUD) is clearly an exhibition of their intolerant and parochial attitude and hence against the law of the land and the very culture of the Nagas. Nagaland is a secular State, as we all know, and hence all villages or ranges within Nagaland are covered by this law and whoever goes against it is punishable.

The naked truth of Anatongre incident is pulling down of a Catholic Church under construction and that too contemptuously after a mass 'Baptist Christian' prayer but the editorial saying, that "…….the resolution was enforced by pulling down of structure" without mentioning 'Church', is a blatant lie. This, in plain language, is a 'jaundiced view' (disability to see and know the truth). The Editorial then tried to support the action of pulling down the church and upheld the resolution that suppresses freedom of faith by misconstruing the constitutional provision of Article 371(A) saying that "villages are still deeply rooted to traditional culture and practices, which even the constitution Article 371(A) accords recognition and legitimacy…" This is either exhibition of ones ignorance of the provisions of the Article or a deliberate suppression of its provision by employing a faulty and doctored interpretation for a narcissistic

end.  The villages being deeply rooted in ones traditional culture and practice, I hope, does not mean that our forefathers or Anatongre villager's forefathers had the practice and tradition of pulling down other's churches from time immemorial. In effect, every sentence and Para of the editorial is biased and unintelligent in its intent and the sequence of the write up is hotchpotch devoid of logical coherence exclusively enough to mislead any innocent or naïve reader.

The editorial, at its best, is the height of malicious journalism and hence an insult to the Press Fraternity and such editorial will not only invite severe criticism in today's society but also bring disgrace to any esteem daily-unfortunately Nagaland Post this time.

Advice on (land resources resolution) made 

by the Nagaland legislative assembly

The Nagaland Assembly (NLA) unanimously passed a resolution of Nagaland (Ownership transfer of land and its Resources) in respect of minerals including Petroleum and Natural gas, Resolution of 2010, Viz, it is enshrined in the constitution of India that, (No Act of Parliament in respect of ownership and Natural gas shall be applied to the state of Nagaland and the state shall made appropriate modalities to apply and enforced in the state).

The intention and the motive of Resolution for giving due recognition, The ownership of land is appreciable, but/however/the sentence which appears in the paper, The state of Nagaland representing the people shall have the jurisdiction and regulation of Development over Minerals including petroleum and natural Gas in term of usage shall to control in the matter exploration and Development in the state which will include acquisition of minerals bearing areas, fixation of land compensation rate, land owner share in benefits or royalty arising out of extraction of the minerals.

This very sentence appearing needs to be referred to all the Tribal Hohos, and also illicit public opinion before the modalities shall be framed. Till today, I hold the position of senior most Leaders, who was elected 8 (eight) times in Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA). I should not be a silent spectator if I no anything clearly and truthfully.

It is not the modality framed by the Nagaland Government or by passing a Resolution in the House. It has to bring a Bill, subsidiary Bill- under Article 371(A) and the Bill should be passed by the (NLA) and the Bill should signed by the Governor of Nagaland, and approved by the President of India.

If it is not done, there will be a lot of complication and lot of litigation to which the present constitutional provision stand.

This case imply with tradition customary and social practices, from generation to generation. I am suggesting in a proper way to make it positive and practical.

Mr. T.A Ngullie

Senior & Former Finance, Law & Justice

Revenue & Border/Boundary Affairs Minister.