CM, Speaker, Dr. Shürho address meetings
A total of 25 legislators that included 16 NPF, one JD-U, one NCP and seven independents, reaffirmed their “trust and confidence” on the leadership of chief minister T.R.Zeliang and the stewardship of NPF president and DAN chairman Dr.Shürhozelie Liezietsu at the DAN legislature meeting .
In a statement, Media Officer to CM informed that four BJP legislators could not attend as they were still in Delhi though Paiwang Konyak, parliamentary secretary of transport, faxed a message expressing inability to attend but assured he would stand by whatever decision arrived at in the DAN legislature meeting. Minister of parliamentary affairs, Kiyanilie chaired the meeting.
Earlier, the NPF legislators reaffirmed their trust and confidence in the leadership of both chief minister T.R.Zeliang and NPF president Dr.Shürhozelie Liezietsu.
T.R. Zeliang: State chief minister T.R.Zeliang reiterated that he held the constitutional and legal machineries to deal with the current political impasse and expressed confidence, that the central government would help resolve the crisis as per the constitution of India.
Addressing the DAN legislature meeting at the State Banquet Hall Tuesday, Zeliang informed members that “the rebel camp” was resorting to illegal means and psychological game “just to confuse the people” and also to provide “false hope” to legislators within their camp. Hitting out at the former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP, the chief minister said Rio wanted to “install a puppet chief minister, in order to take control of the functioning of the state government of his own liking” as he had failed to achieve his objective in Delhi.
He also said legislators in the rebel camp, have denounced their oath of allegiance to the constitution of India and therefore, should come under scrutiny of the law. Zeliang also wondered how even veteran legislators could be easily misled by the “false agenda of the rebel group”. On his part, the chief minister reiterated that he would never resort to “any cheap and false publicity to gain popularity, like the rebel group”.
Affirming that he never has any intention of either dismantling the NPF nor destabilising the duly elected government, Zeliang reiterated that he would not allow “some disgruntled members to hijack the duly elected government and let the people suffer”.
The chief minister cautioned, that in the event the government was dislodged and people made to suffer if President’s Rule was imposed, then the entire blame would go to the “rebel camp”.
On the formation of a parallel NPF party by the rebel camp and election of their own leaders, Zeliang described it as a “mock parliament” only to fool the Naga people.Since the “rebel legislators” have given up membership from the duly recognised NPF party, they would be liable for disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law, he said.
On the allegation of “black money transfer” against him, the chief minister accused the “rebel group” of resorting to falsehood as they have run out of logical arguments.
The chief minister also disclosed, that he has directed the home commissioner to write to the ministry of home affairs for a thorough probe in the matter so as to expose the truth. Zeliang said though prime minister Narendra Modi did not announce any package for Nagaland; yet after he appraised the prime minister of the state’s grievances the prime minister has understood the state’s grievances and that the PMO was working out a formula to “rescue the state from financial crisis” and added, that there was no chance that his government would “fall due to poor fiscal health”.
NLA Speaker: Also addressing the meeting Speaker of the NLA Chotisuh Sazo said he would only go by the law and rules when the issue went to the floor of the house.The speaker further said though the “rebel group” claimed to have taken over the NPF party and elected their own leader and whip; yet such exercises could only be done by a duly recognised party and no other party not recognised by the Election Commission of India and the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. The Speaker also said the current political crisis provided every legislator to introspect on themselves and also correct themselves for the betterment of the state.
Dr. Shürhozelie: NPF president and DAN Chairman Dr. Shürhozelie pointed out that the present government was not the government of the NPF party alone but “is the DAN government” and therefore, its fate would be decided by DAN members and not NPF alone.
He pointed out that the NPF has its own constitution and whatever action he took against the “rebel members” was legitimate and as per the party constitution. He said the appointment of Noke as president, Abu Metha as secretary general and Kuzholuzo Neinu as whip of the parallel NPF party and legislature was “totally illegal” and only to fool the people. Dr. Shürhozelie said he removed Azo as party chief whip “because of his behaviour” and therefore, his election as chief whip by the “rebel group is illegitimate”.
Dr. Shürhozelie said he still enjoyed the support of majority of NPF leaders, divisions, frontal heads and constituency levels and therefore, the claim by the rivals that they have elected a new party president was “totally unconstitutional”.
On the rival group having met the Election Commission of India to claim legitimacy with a new list of NPF office bearers, he said the ECI members could not be fooled nor would be convinced since it has the list of duly elected NPF office bearers as approved at the general convention, which it recognised.
Dr. Shürhozelie said there was complete understanding among DAN partners and that all back chief minister T.R.Zeliang and called upon DAN legislators to have a sense of oneness, in working for the betterment of the state, though they belonged to different political parties.
B.S.Nganlang (JD-U), Jacob Zhimomi (Ind), Khumo (NCP) S.Chuba (Ind) and NPF legislators-Kejong Chang, C.L. John and Yitachu who spoke assured their unstinted support to the leadership of chief minister T.R. Zeliang and reaffirmed to strengthen DAN to provide a stable government for the people.
Meanwhile, in a separate press release, the list of those who attended the DAN Legislature party meeting held at State banquet hall were—NPF legislators’ led by chief minister, T.R. Zeliang; NLA speaker, Chotish Sazo; social welfare minister, Kiyanilie Peseyie; Home minister, Y. Patton; H&FW minister, P. Longon; Power minister, C. Kipili Sangtam; minister Forest, Environment & Wildlife, Dr. N. Nicky Kire; minister Mech & NH, Nuklutoshi; minister RD&REPA, C.L. John; parl. secy Horticulture, Kejong Chang; parl. secy. School Edn, Yitachu; parl. secy. P&C, E&M, Neiba Kronu; parl. secy. CAWD, Eco & Stats, R. Tohanba; parl. secy. I&RC, Election, Y. Vikheho Swu; parl. secy. YR&S, NRE, MTF, Khriehu Liezietsu; adviser DUDA Thongwang Konyak and the rest were marked as “absent”.
Alliance partners include— parl. secy. LR&NC, B.S. Nganlang (JD-U), parl. secy. LR, VG, DB&GB, L. Khumo Khiam (NCP) while parl. secy. Transport, I&PR, P. Paiwang Konyak of the BJP was marked as “on leave”, the other three BJP MLAs were marked “absent”.
Independent MLAs— dy. speaker, Er. Levi Rengma; parl. secy. J&HG, Picto; parl. secy. L&J, N. Jacob Zhimomi, parl. secy. DAN & NHL, S. Chuba Longkumer, NBDA, NPCB chairman, Amenba Yaden; NBRM chairman, Toyang Changkong Chang; NKVIB chairman, Y.M. Yolow and one marked as “absent”.
NPF Legislature meeting: In another statement it was informed that the NPF legislature party meeting held prior to the DAN meet, reaffirmed the trust and confidence in the leadership of T.R. Zeliang as chief minister, “duly elected as NPF Legislature party leader before the formation of DAN government on May 23, 2014 and also place immense faith in the stewardship of NPF party under Dr. Shürhozelie.” Altogether 16 NPF legislators attended meeting out of which 13 were marked as absent.
NPF (Noke) CEC adopts 6-point resolution
DIMAPUR, JAN 20 (NPN): Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting of the NPF (Noke) Tuesday, held at Chumukedima, Dimapur adopted a 6-point resolution.
In a press release, press & media cell said that 22 MLAs, 57 CEC members, presidents of 10 divisions, presidents of 39 assembly constituency units and 37 Central office bearers attended the meeting and adopted the following resolutions: The house congratulated and upheld the leadership of NPF president Noke Wangnao and NPF Legislature party leader G. Kaito Aye and resolved to stand firm behind their leadership in the greater interest of the people.
Secondly, the house assured Naga people that the NPF-led DAN would provide a stable and transparent Government, to rebuild and re-strengthen the friendship between Nagaland government and NDA Government at the Centre, to usher in accelerated development and equitable growth for all sections of society. The third resolution, the cell said was to continue to put the Indo-Naga political issue as the topmost agenda and that the party would strive for early resolution of the decades old political imbroglio in an honorable manner that is acceptable to the people.
The fourth resolution unanimously condemned the refusal of minority chief minister, T.R. Zeliang, who is unconstitutionally occupying the chair of the chief minister despite the fact that the majority of the MLAs in the ruling NPF and DAN coalition have withdrawn support to his leadership.
Fifth resolution, appealed to the honorable Members under confinement in Kohima to come and join hands with the majority of the Legislators and the party organization and assured that each of the members would be treated with honour and dignity without any discrimination or prejudice.
Lastly, the house resolved to steadfastly uphold the principles and ideals of the NPF at all costs and to protect the rich traditions of the party in ensuring that inner democracy would continue to prevail and that the majority view would be respected above all else.
Acknowledging that the NPF carries the voice of the Nagas, the house observed that it was the responsibility of the NPF to make the voice heard and respected under the unshakable motto, coined by the founders of the party, of Fide Non Armies.
Kaito led NPF legislature party adopts 4-pt resolution: NPF legislature party led by G. Kaito Aye held a meeting at Niathu Resort, Chumukedima Tuesday wherein four resolutions were adopted by the “resolution committee” with Zhaleo Rio as convener, Merentoshi R. Jamir as member secretary and members– E.E. Pangteang, Deo Nukhu, Dr. Benjongliba and Shetoyi.
The Committee after thorough deliberations passed the following resolutions:
1. To urge the Nagaland Governor to dismiss the minority Government headed by T.R. Zeliang with immediate effect and allow the majority leader elect G. Kaito Aye to form the Government.
2. To stand united and work wholeheartedly in strengthening the Party under the leadership of NPF president NokeWangnao and leader of the NPF Legislature Party G. Kaito Aye.
3. To extend and appeal to all the NPF Legislators and NPF party workers currently in T.R. Zeliang’s camp to come and join the legitimate majority led by the NPF Legislature party leader G. Kaito Aye in the greater interest of the party and the people of the State keeping in mind the principles of forgive and forget in the spirit of reconciliation.
4. To wholeheartedly support the ongoing peace process between the Naga Political Groups and the government of India.
T.R. Zeliang in a minority, says NPF (Noke): Attacking the “minority chief minister T.R.Zeliang’s so-called DAN meeting” held in Kohima Tuesday, NPF (Noke) through the NPF press and media cell, said since it was in a clear minority, only NPF MLAs confined in “Dr. Shürhozelie’s hotel attended the meeting” and none of the BJP MLAs, who were in Delhi, attended it. Terming as “misleading” the statement of “former secretary general K.G. Kenye”, the press and media cell, said it was “only meant to mislead the public”.
On the other hand, the media cell said the DAN coordination meeting called by Noke Wangnao on January 14, was attended by MLAs and office bearers of NPF and BJP where it was resolved to “respect the majority”.
It said at the NPF legislature party meeting held Tuesday under the chairmanship of Kaito Aye, 22 NPF MLAs attended whereas, at the meeting convened by T.R.Zelaing, only 16 NPF MLAs that included the Speaker “ who has declared his neutrality”.
The press and media cell, further said it clearly exposed that T.R.Zeliang was in a “clear minority” with the NPF and DAN. It therefore, demanded that T.R.Zeliang immediately step down as he no longer enjoyed the confidence and majority of the elected members.
The press and media cell also said leader of NPF legislature party G.Kaito Aye assured all sections of people that if given the opportunity, he would provide a “pro-people and people friendly government, where no community could be undermined, however big or small”.
While addressing the CEC of the NPF at Chumukedima, Kaito assured that all sections of people would be taken on board and that transparency, fairness and justice would be his mantra of good governance.
Kaito also affirmed that his top agenda would be for an honourable, acceptable and early resolution of the “Indo-Naga political problem”.