DIMAPUR, MARCH 26: The Nagaland Gaon Bura (village chiefs) Federation (NGBF) has expressed reservation over the ensuing Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) election in the State, saying conducting local body election at this stage is not fully the will of the Nagas.
In a press release, the NGBF maintained that Naga customary law, as per the agreed terms of 1960, do not warrant the creation of Urban Local Bodies. “The village, area and range councils alone can be made operational. Article 243 cannot be applied to Nagaland including 73rd Amendment of the constitution”, it stated.
“Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001, (9) (2) of dividing the Villages into wards and the same as in 21(2) of the same Act do not fit into the scheme of Article 371 (A) (1) (a) and infringing in any manner is not encouraged”, it said.
Admitting that the ensuing ULBs election in the State is as per the directive of the Supreme Court, the Federation said the Supreme Court directive “is an outcome of our failure in convincing the Court on the political negotiations between the Government of India and Naga National Political Groups and the concerned party should take responsibility of it”.
“The Naga political solution drawn between NPGs and GoI has been discussed in all the forums including that of Nagaland Legislators. We are made to understand that the formation of Bicameral house and Federal Hoho and the structuring of the administration of the Federal Hoho, would be decided after the political solution and therefore conducting the local body election at this stage is not fully the will of the Nagas”, it said.
The NGBF added, “If at all we are serious of our Naga political solution the political reality should be let known to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.”
(Page News Service)
