Guwahati: Nagaland governor P.B. Acharya today worked hard to convince the influential Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) to talk to the protesters and persuade them to end the standoff with the T.R. Zeliang-led state government over the issue of 33 per cent reservation for women in urban local body polls.
But the governor’s efforts came undone by evening, following a daylong meeting between the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC), Kohima, the Joint Coordination Committee, Dimapur, and all leading hohos in Kohima to chalk out their future agitation programmes.
The two bodies, authorised to spearhead the movement on behalf of the hohos, set a fresh three-day deadline from tomorrow for Zeliang to quit.
They also decided not to attend tomorrow’s meeting – convened by the chief minister to resolve the standoff, were against submitting any memorandum by the state Cabinet to the Centre seeking exemption from women reservation, because the state Assembly was empowered to do so on its own, and sought the suspension of all police personnel involved in the firing on January 31.
They also decided that they were against holding of urban local body polls unless thorough amendments were made to the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001, by safeguarding the special powers conferred to Nagaland under Section 371 (A) of the Constitution.
Acharya told The Telegraph that he was aware about the fresh ultimatum, but had not yet given up on his efforts to avoid a constitutional crisis. He also said the talks between him and the nine-member Church team at Raj Bhavan lasted for nearly two hours. “They were a bit wary of getting involved because they said the issue had turned political. I had to impress upon them the fact that they have a moral responsibility, given their reach and influence, to help remove misunderstandings. I pointed out the positive role they played in earlier meetings. They finally agreed to talk to the NTAC. Let me see what I can do tomorrow, how to solve it.”
The governor said he wanted to have the tripartite talks at Raj Bhavan, but, for an amicable solution, he was ready to sit with the parties concerned anywhere. The protesters had conveyed that they did not want to hold the meeting at Raj Bhavan in the presence of Zeliang, whose resignation they are demanding for holding the urban local body polls on February 1 despite stiff opposition to the exercise.
Zeliang has also stepped up efforts to reach out to various sections to defuse the crisis.
At a news conference this afternoon, the chief minister said he will hold consultations with all the hohos tomorrow and talk to influential organisations such as the Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation and Central Nagaland Tribes Council on Thursday.
However, he made it clear that there was no reason for him to resign, a key demand of the protesters following the death of two youths on January 31 after which there were incidents of arson in Kohima, Telegraph reported.
“As many as 45 MLAs, who are in Kohima, are supporting me. There is no Opposition in the state. On what ground should I resign?” he asked. “I am exploring all options. We have a consultation tomorrow and the day after with leading organisations to explain the government’s position on the standoff. I have not betrayed anybody and I have also apologised for the death of the two youths. Hope people will understand.”
While the state cabinet has decided to seek exemption for Nagaland from Part IX A of the Constitution relating to urban local bodies, Acharya has advised Zeliang to get the Assembly to revoke the resolution ensuring 33 per cent quota for women, instead of moving the Centre to do so.
The Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) has already submitted a petition in the Supreme Court to withdraw its petition seeking reservation, but it will be back to square one if anybody files a similar petition unless the Constitution is amended, the CMO has said.