Naga Mothers' Association slams BJP programme of tying rakhi to army personnel

The Naga Mothers' Association (NMA) on Saturday demanded the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Nagaland. They further slammed the move of a few women tying rakhis to army personnel.

A statement by the influential organisation, issued by its president Abei-U Meru and joint secretary Malsawmthangi Leyri, condemned the "questionable act of few Naga women tying rakhis on Indian armed forces personnel in Dimapur and Tamenglong during the recent Raksha Bandhan celebrations.

"For us Naga women, traumatised by a genocidal history of rapes, molestation, killings, and inhumane atrocities at the hands of Indian armed forces under the impunity of the AFSPA, it is a shame and a black day to witness our women tying rakhis and felicitating these very armed forces, when we are yet to see justice for war crimes and human rights violations committed against our own women, children and men," the NMA said.

It added that the act is unacceptable and questionable whether it was initiated by the BJP in Dimapur or student bosies' obligations to the Assam Rifles in Tamenglong. They added that it would continue to be unacceptable as long as Nagas are forced to live under AFSPA without justice for the human rights violations.

"The haunting cries of the victims for justice in numerous incidents over the decades are yet to be heard," it said.

"The horrifying massacre of Nagas at Matikhru on September 6, 1960, by the 16th Punjab Regiment remains a Black Day till today, which is a record of extreme violation of human rights, whereby the army committed the barbaric beheading of our innocent villagers," the statement recounted. They further alleged that the "killings, tortures and rapes at Oinam and surrounding villages under Operation Bluebird, the Mokokchung arson, Pangsha fake encounter etc. are all still fresh in the memory of the people".

They also slammed the recent press statement of the Assam Rifles and said it was unacceptable to Naga women because "they are not in a position to sermonise in the face of such atrocities, nor is the objection to the Raksha Bhandan an issue about cultural practices or religious differences".

"It is about the denial of justice on war crimes against Nagas, including women and children, under the imposition of AFSPA," the statement stressed.

They further urged the members of the BJP Mahila Morcha to join the Naga women if they are true Nagas who love their people and raise their voices for the repeal of AFSPA instead of carrying out such objectionable programmes.