TNL expels two Congress MLAs
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, October 20 2015:
In line with the earlier stand adopted, the Tangkhul Naga Long has ex-communicated two Congress MLAs, while 15 days time has been given to the NPF MLA of Ukhrul AC, Samuel Risom to prove his earlier resignation.
The two Congress MLAs are Victor Keishing from Phungyar AC and Preshow Shimray from Chingai AC.
While Preshow is the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Victor is a Parliamentary Secretary in charge TD and IT .
The decision to ex-communicate the two MLAs was read out during a public meeting held at the TNL Hall, Wino Bazar by TNL president Weapon Zimik today.
Weapon Zimik also read out that Samuel Risom should prove the authenticity of his reported resignation within 15 days or else he will also face the same penalty as the two Congress MLAs.
Over 500 people from different villages of Ukhrul district attended the public meeting.
Before he read out the declaration, Weapon Zimik explained why the public meeting was convened today.
According to the TNL, no Tangkhul MLA has expressed opposition against the decision of the State Assembly on the Naga National issue and the three 'anti-tribal Bills' passed on August 31.They neither raised their voice of objection nor walked out from the Assembly.
This resulted in the mass public rally on September 9 wherein the demand that the three Tangkhul MLAs should resign from the Assembly within 30 days was raised.
The TNL as per the strict order/directive of UNC and in discussion with all Tangkhul frontal organizations during the consultative meeting held on October 19, resolved to declare the penalty on the Congress MLAs, Victor Keishing from 43 A/C Phungyar and MK Preshow Shimray from 45 A/C Chingai.
The declaration as written in Tangkhul Dialect 'Kasham Haira' literary means 'cast out or banished/exiled'.
It was further resolved that the two Congress MLAs would be restricted/forbidden to set their foot on 'our soil/Tangkhul area' with immediate effect from the day of declaration.
In 2010, a similar social boycott was also declared against the ADC members for participating in the ADC election.
Under the directive of the UNC, the TNL as well as the Tangkhul villages declared to socially boycott all elected ADC members of 2010 .
Following this, after the 2015 MADC election, at least 14 former ADC members from Ukhrul district have surrendered before the TNL office to be restored in the Tangkhul community.
The TNL penalised them according to the Tangkhul customary law, after which the 'surrendered' ADC members were given a reception in a "Home Coming Ceremony" during their restoration programme held at the TNL office recently.
Ostensibly, it is doubted whether the same "Home Coming Ceremony" would be accorded to the banished MLAs because the penalty awarded to them is more severe than the social boycott of ADC members of 2010 .
The TNL declaration further asserted that the NPF MLA from Ukhrul A/C, Samuel Risom should prove the authenticity of his resignation within 15 days, failing which the same penalty would awarded on him.
The TNL in co-ordination with all Tangkhul frontal organizations is monitoring the future course of action and the strategy.