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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.
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