CHANGLANG, Sep 13: One Tirap Changlang Longding People’s Forum has expressed resentment over the move initiated by Lok Sabha MP Ninong Ering to delete the word ‘Naga’, used to describe the native people of Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL) districts, from the state’s ST list.
In a press release, the forum on Thursday said it is strongly opposed to any such move.
“We vehemently oppose any individual/entity trying to distort our history, culture, tradition and custom for cheap political gain.
The term ‘any Naga tribe’ should be replaced by recognizing the Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh as Tangsa Naga, Nocte Naga, Wancho Naga, Tutsa Naga and Olio Naga etc,” it stated.
Questioning the motive behind “the assumed urgency on the part of Ering to initiate the move,” the forum sought to know why the MP decided to take up the issue after a lapse of five years, “after his first attempts, in May 2013 and June 2013, respectively, when he met former union tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra S Deo and appealed to him to delete the term ‘any Naga tribe’.”
The forum appealed to the elected representatives of TCL districts to immediately take up the issue with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the union tribal affairs ministry “and apprise them of the facts.”
