A growing standoff over Nagaland’s reservation review has taken a sharp turn, with the 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) announcing a boycott of all state government events, including Independence Day.
The move follows a joint meeting of tribal apex bodies and CoRRP in Kohima, where leaders rejected the composition of the state’s new Reservation Review Commission.
Protest over Commission’s composition
The meeting at Hotel Ura ended with a unanimous decision to abstain from government functions after the state cabinet unveiled the commission’s lineup on August 6. CoRRP said it backs an independent review but opposes civil society organisations (CSOs) being included in the seven-member panel. Leaders argued that bringing CSOs into the commission weakens impartiality and pressed for a panel made up only of serving or retired government officials.
Convenor Tesinlo Semy said the committee consulted apex hohos, youth, and student groups before deciding to escalate the protest. He called CSO inclusion unacceptable, noting the boycott would cover Independence Day and all other official events. This marks a significant escalation and signals the committee’s resolve to secure a commission they deem neutral.
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How the Commission was formed
Member secretary GK Zhimomi traced the commission’s origin to a June 3 meeting with the government, led by Deputy Chief Minister (Home) Y Patton. At that meeting, the committee restated its demands and agreed to the idea of an independent body.
The government indicated agreement in principle on June 12, but its August 6 announcement included CSO members, a point CoRRP said it had opposed from the beginning. Zhimomi said the body must be entirely independent to produce a fair review of the reservation policy.
CoRRP accepted the six-month deadline for the commission’s report but issued a warning against any delay or attempts to tie implementation to the next census. According to Zhimomi, recommendations should take effect immediately and not be linked to census timelines. He added that the boycott is the third phase of the committee’s protest and could continue beyond August if the composition issue is not resolved.
Flashpoints and responses
Tensions rose further when Zhimomi criticised government spokesperson and Minister KG Kenye for stating that five tribes hold 64% of state jobs. He called the figure “wildly imaginary,” saying the committee has its own data and will release it at an appropriate time.
He also questioned the minister’s claim of neutrality, arguing that defending a 48-year-old state policy by citing the Centre’s 78-year-old SC/ST reservation was beside the point. Nagaland’s backward tribe reservation, he said, is a separate issue that should not be conflated with central policies.
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Next steps and conditions
CoRRP maintained that CSOs must be excluded from the commission, calling independence and impartiality non-negotiable. It urged the government to implement the commission’s recommendations immediately upon submission. The committee also warned that if outcomes are tied to the census, it would push for suspension of the reservation policy until the process is completed.
On future talks, Zhimomi said it is up to the government to invite the committee. Without such an invitation, the boycott of all government functions including Independence Day will go ahead, with the option to continue beyond August.
