Despite a proposal for an all-party government, NPF members continued to play the role of opposition during the eighth session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) that concluded on Thursday.
Both ruling and opposition came together on common issues like Naga political issue and Assam-Nagaland border row for which unanimous resolutions were adopted. During the question hour on August 3, NPF legislator Imkong L Imchen asked the treasury benches to take every question asked, authenticate facts and figures from the departments and respond accordingly with all transparency, instead of giving half-baked information.
Opposition MLA Azo admitted that the proposal for an all-party government had put the opposition members in an embarrassing situation as they could not target the government on various issues. Azo emphasised that the negotiating groups must come to an understanding and see the offer of the Centre, and whichever group that does not sign the agreement can abrogate the ceasefire and go back to their camps.
It was also learnt that one of the members from Core Committee on Naga Political Issue echoed the same sentiment during a meeting with NSCN (I-M) delegation at Dimapur.
Azo expressed displeasure over the thin attendance of bureaucrats– HoDs and AHoDs at the Assembly. He said their presence was important as they were the ones to implement government policies and programmes.
The leader of the house, Neiphiu Rio, supported the MLA on this and asked the HoDs present at the Assembly to convene a meeting to ensure that the officers attend sessions in future. Yitachu, NPF legislator, remarked that he personally felt as an act of cowardice the decision on joining the ruling coalition for an all-party government. However, for Naga political issues, he assured that NPF would always do whatever was required and no matter what it would cost the party.
During discussion on Naga issue, Azo outpoured his frustration stating that it was his 19th year sitting as a legislator and fed up with the words “pave the way”. He remarked that the members could no longer lie to the people of assuring to bring settlement. He cautioned the members that people were cleverer than their elected representatives and watching them.