At least 17 candidates of the forthcoming civic polls in Nagaland were excommunicated for 30 years for non-compliance to a diktat issued by the community organisation.
The Ao Senden, the apex body of Ao tribe in the State has decided to excommunicate 17 candidates for 30 years for their failure to withdraw their nominations for the civic body polls, which is slated for February 1 this year.
Several tribal organisations in the hill State including the apex bodies or Hohos of different tribes have called bandhs and agitation programs in the last few weeks and threatened to boycott the urban local polls in protest against the State Government’s recent decision to allow 33 percent reservation for women in the forthcoming urban local polls.
The Ao Sengden had issued diktat prohibiting the people from participating in the election saying that anyone from the Ao community found violating this order would be liable to “questioning and appropriate punishment”.
“The 17 candidates belonging to the Ao tribe, despite repeated appeals and calls made by the Senden, decided not to withdraw their nominations. In this regard, the 17 individuals have been stripped off their social and customary rights, status and ex-communicated from Ao citizenship for 30 years,” a statement issued by the Ao Senden acting president C Angang Jamir said on Saturday.
“The individuals have also been barred from participating in any social or Governmental activities on behalf of Ao community for the next 30 years,” the statement said. The Ao Senden also lauded those candidates who had withdrawn their nomination papers and for paying heed to the voice of the people.
“The sole objective was to preserve and protect the rich cultural heritage and rights,” the statement issued by the Ao Senden stated.
It may be mentioned here that most of the tribes in Nagaland believes that the Naga society is governed by customary laws for hundreds of years and it is not good to wipe those laws out by anyone.