Mokokchung, June 10 (MExN): The demand for construction of the much publicized Foothills Road stretching from Tizit to Dimapur, and onwards to Khelma seems to keep growing stronger. Five apex tribal student bodies held a prolonged meeting here today with regard to the demand for the construction of the said road. Representatives of Kyong Students’ Union, All Sumi Students’ Union, Phom Student’s Conference, Konyak Students’ Union, and the hosts - Ao Students’ Conference led by their respective presidents.
The apex student organizations after their meeting addressed the press here at Hotel Metsüben where it was announced that they will be writing a joint-representation to the Chief Minister of Nagaland “on behalf of the affected districts” demanding construction of the Foothills Road “at the earliest” and to “give positive response to our demand within thirty days.”
The student bodies also questioned the Government of Nagaland as to why it remained “adamant to satisfy the Ao Senden’s 5-point charter of demand.” They declared, “We find all the demands of Ao Senden genuine,” and added that the five student bodies support the Ao Senden. It was also made known that all the student leaders present in the meeting will stay back to participate and support the Ao Senden in the ‘bandh’ called by the latter to be imposed tomorrow at Mokokchung.
They also complained that Nagas from the “affected districts” undergo “untold hardship and extortion by Assam Police” while travelling to Kohima and Dimapur. “Vulnerability faced by Nagas being ignored by the government is unbecoming on the part of the state government,” they protested.
On the “Interim Agreement of 1972” signed between the governments of Assam and Nagaland, the student leaders said they “implore as well as appeal the government of Nagaland to redeploy police forces to the border areas” saying Assam has not withdrawn their police forces from the border belt as per the agreement.
It was also announced that the student organizations resolved to constitute a Foothills Road Construction Demand Committee whereby President of Konyak Students’ Union was appointed as the Convenor of the committee and president of All Sumi Students’ Union as its secretary. Presidents of the Kyong Students’ Union, Phom Students’ Conference and Ao Students’ Conference will be members of the committee along with one representative each from all of the five student bodies to be nominated on a later date. This committee was also entrusted to “oversee the quality control and progress of the work” as and when the construction of the road begins.
It was informed that the respective student organizations have been entrusted to educate and convince the landowners in their jurisdictions not to claim compensation when the road construction works begin for the larger interest of the people. Further, it was also informed that the student bodies will request all the 36 legislators from the “affected districts” to support “the issue.”
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