Khiamniungan people “deeply hurt” without a cabinet berth

Stating that the DAN government has totally ignored the “people’s mandate”, desiring development instead which is “in contrast” to its election manifesto, the Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) has expressed “anguish/displeasure” over the distribution of cabinet berth in the DAN III ministry. “The Khiamniungan area is the least developed and neglected part of the state despite the fact that nearly 159 Km of the international border falls under Khiamniungan jurisdiction,” states a press release from the organisation’s President and General Secretary.

The statement asserts that this is the third consecutive time that P. Longon has been elected by the people “with the hope” that the DAN government “will allot a better cabinet position” to benefit the people. The Khiamniungan people’s contributions for the “common cause and attainment of Nagaland statehood” have also been mentioned. The KTC is “deeply hurt” that the “backward people” have been ignored by denying a cabinet berth to P. Longon through whom the Khiamniungan people could have ventilated their grievances.