Kohima: Despite opposition from certain tribal councils, Naga women on Monday staged protest rallies here and district headquarter towns against the state assembly’s recent resolution rejecting 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in municipal bodies.
The women, under the aegis of Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR), demanded intervention of the governor by summoning a special session of the assembly to discuss the women’s reservation issue taking into consideration the views and opinions of all stakeholders.
They went to Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the governor in this regard, JACWR sources said. Before meeting the governor, speakers at a rally deplored the assembly resolution and saying the struggle for the constitutional rights of the Naga women would continue till the goal is achieved.
They also said Article 371 (A) of the Constitution, a special provision for Nagaland, has nothing to do with the 74th constitutional amendment which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in municipal councils.
JACWR leader Rosemary Zuvichu said Naga women had filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court pleading review of the Gauhati High Court ruling which upheld the Article 371 (A) rejecting 33 per cent quota for Naga women.
Meanwhile, Wantsu Mungdang, apex Ao Naga women body, did not take out any rally following opposition from Ao tribal council, but extended moral support to protest rallies held in other parts of Nagaland, the sources said.
Eastern Naga People’s Organisations, comprising six tribes of border districts, had asked women of their tribes not to take out rallies.
But defying the dictat, Konyak women staged protest march in Mon town, the sources said. Protest rallies were also held at Dimapur, Wokha, Zunheboto and Phek. (PTI)