12-hr Dimapur ‘shutter down’ peaceful

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, SEP 30 (NPN) :

SHIFTING OF DC OFFICE: CSOS FORM CORE COMMITTEE; REJECT GOVT’S APPEAL

To express opposition against the state government’s order for eventual shifting of DC’s Office Dimapur to the new complex at Chümoukdima, a 12-hour “total shutter-down” was observed on Thursday. The shutter-down call, however, had no impact at Chümoukdima town and Kuda village (Nagarjan area) where shops were open and conducted business as usual.

The shutter-down was a sequel to the September 7 notification issued by the home department directing the district election office and disaster management cell to shift their office from the present location at DC Office Dimapur to the new DC’s Office Complex at Chümoukdima.

In Dimapur, shops downed shutters while vehicular traffic was thin except for those travelling to various offices.

There was adequate deployment of security forces across the district, even as volunteers of various CSOs were seen moving around the town to enforce the strike.

The decision of the government to finally shift the entire offices located at the present DC Office campus to the new modern complex at Chümoukedima is being opposed by Dimapur-based Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the ground of causing inconvenience to public.

Addressing media at Tourist Lodge here, Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum (DDCF) president Yibemo Kikon maintained that the forum has no ill feeling against any individual or organisation that are not supporting them.

He urged upon public not to create any issue of tribalism since the forum was only against tofhe State government’s order for shifting district election office and disaster management cell from existing DC office here to “elsewhere”.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that DDCF held an emergency meeting with 20 other Dimapur-based CSOs at Tourist Lodge here, where it was resolved not to accept the appeal made by the State government through principal secretary, home. He claimed that forum had not received any official letter from the State government so far.

Kikon explained that their ultimatum was served on the chief minister and not to principal secretary, (home) and therefore, any appeal that did not come from the chief minister’s office was not acceptable.

Asked about the next step if the State government failed to meet their demands, he said the core committee, constituted at Thursday’s meeting will decide on the future course of action. The core committee will comprise of two members each from CSOs and five senior citizens as members, besides legal advisers.

Meanwhile, Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT)general secretary Longshi Kikon clarified that the Union rejected the shutter-down called by DDCF since NTUCT supported and welcomed the State government’s decision of shifting the DC office from its current location to Chümoukedima.

He also claimed that there are 19 tribes under NTUCT and therefore, the issue had nothing to do with tribal matter.

He appealed to public not to turn it as a tribal issue.

Kikon also pointed out that Chümoukedima was declared as Headquarters of Dimapur district since its inception.

It may also be mentioned that former governor and also three-time chief minister of Nagaland Dr. S.C. Jamir had called for shifting of the DC’s Office to Chümoukedima during a recent social work at the complex. He said: “Chümoukedima area is inhabited by all the different tribes of Nagaland and shifting of Dimapur District HQ to Chümoukedima can unify the Nagas when all inhabitants develop a sense of belonging and ownership of the town.”

It was during Dr. Jamir’s tenure that in the face of opposition in Kohima his government declared Dimapur as a district with Chümoukedima as headquarter.

Dr. Jamir also told media that shifting of administrative office to the new complex was decided by the government after taking due consideration of all aspects.

MTMK backs shifting of DC’s office: Medziphema Town Mechü Krotho (MTMK) Thursday affirmed to continue to support the proposed shifting of deputy commissioner (DC) office Dimapur to Chümoukedima as unanimously resolved during its last joint public meeting with different tribal unions of Medziphema town on September 11, 2019.

In a press release, MTMK president Akhoto Kuotsu and general secretary Thejangukho Yalietsu said that shifting of DC office to Chümoukedima was “a long felt desire of the people”. MTMK said that people’s desire to shift DC office was especially due to traffic congestion, upgraded infrastructural complex and staff residences, spacious and healthy environment as well as easy accessibility for upper villages under Medziphema subdivision.

Meanwhile, Krotho has accused certain CSOs of trying to destabilize the shifting process without valid reasons.

In this regard, MTMK has appealed to all right-thinking citizens to show their solidarity with the government’s order to shift DC Office to Chümoukedima in a phased manner.

MTMK further denounced the “shutter down” in some pockets of Dimapur district on September 30 “spearheaded by a few CSOs.”

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/12-hr-dimapur-shutter-down-peaceful/241433.html