With the stand-off between Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) and the T R Zeliang cabinet still continuing, a NTAC team today called on Governor P B Acharya and alleged Zeliang was taking an adamant stand refusing to listen to the voices of people.
The Governor, however, urged the delegation to meet the Chief Minister and ruling DAN Chairman Dr Shurhozelie to discuss and resolve the situation, Raj Bhavan sources said.
An NTAC leader said the 14-member team, led by NTAC Kohima Convenor K T Vilie, submitted a memorandum to the Governor alleging the CM had been adopting a stubborn and adamant stand and not listening to the voice of the people who wanted him to step down.
However, the Raj Bhavan sources informed that the Governor reasoned that any dialogue process is all the more important and urged the agitators to air their demands "in a logical way" to the Chief Minister and DAN Chairman.
The sources further said Acharya convened a meeting of leaders of all political parties in the state tomorrow at 4 PM at Raj Bhavan to discuss the prevailing situation in the state.
(Reopens CES22)
The NTAC later decided to hold a public rally and also launch 'Fast unto death".
The public rally will be held on February 17 at Old MLA Hostel Junction here, which will be followed by 'Fast unto Death' as the next plan of action, the NTAC said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the third day of the statewide bandh called by NTAC Kohima and Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) passed off peacefully today with no untoward incident reported from anywhere.
Markets, banks and government offices remained closed and people preferred to stay indoors.
Except the examinations, the functioning of educational institutions and also the government offices, including the State Civil Secretariat was also paralyzed because of the bandh.
However, due to exemptions granted to hold the board examinations under Nagaland Board of School Education, a batch of 22,446 students are appearing in the High School Leaving Certificate Exams for Class X from today in 76 centres across the state.
It will end on February 27.
A total of 32,744 students have been appearing the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate for Class XII and Class XI promotion exams since yesterday. The Higher Secondary exams will end on March 6.
Hardening their stance, the NTAC Kohima and JCC have also issued separate bandh calls, which will come into effect from 9 AM tomorrow.
The NTAC Kohima has informed it would concentrate specifically on closure of government offices and movement of all government vehicles.
Exemptions were given to fire services, hospitals, SP Office & Police Stations, administration, banks, NBSE and any exam related establishments, NPSC, KMC and wards sanitary vehicles, business establishments and eateries, government and private educational institutions, public transportation, central offices (Postal services, Accountant General, Telecom & BSNL), PHE Field staff for water supply, private vehicles and media.
The bandh will be observed from 9AM to 3PM under NTAC Kohima.
However, JCC, which is concentrating in Dimapur and
other districts of the state, said it was firm in the stand to continue with the bandh till the time T R Zeliang resigned as Chief Minister.
The Nagaland government had fulfilled the demand of NTAC Kohima with regard to declaring the entire process of Urban Local Bodies election with 33 per cent reservation for women as null and void, while the second demand for suspending the police personnel involved in January 31 police firing on the protesters leading to the killing of two youths in Dimapur has been partially fulfilled as they have been transferred.
