Kohima: The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has reaffirmed its decision to pursue the demand for the total revocation of Rongmei tribe recognition by the Nagaland Government.
In a statement, NTC Public Rally Convener Theja Therieh and Member Secretary Kitoho S Rotokha said the Council was overwhelmed by the support extended by various mass based organizations in and around Dimapur to participate in the proposed rally today at Clock Tower, Dimapur.
The NTC has appealed all the rightful citizens of the state to participate and exert their ‘voices to save the identity and status of the Nagas of Nagaland.’
The council has reasserted that the ‘aboriginal or indigenous status’ was not by application to be recognised as tribe in the state but it was the natives who were identified as being indigenous people in their own ancestral land during political re-organization taking place to form a state.
The NTC said the Government notification on constitution of a committee was to examine issues relating to recognition of tribes, in the context of representations received by the Government and to highlight in greater clarity the status of tribe, indigenous inhabitant and permanent domicile.
However, the terms of references as stated above had no indication to ‘revoke or recall’ the notification granting the status of indigenous Naga tribe to the members of Rongmei community in the state of Nagaland. (UNI)
