NDPP has rubbished allegations levelled by leader of opposition (LoO) and NPF Legislative Party leader TR Zeliang against the ruling dispensation of not convening a meeting of Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) on Naga Political Issue.
Reacting to Zeliang’s letter addressed to NLA Speaker Vikho-o Yhoshü on October 22, NDPP pointed out that deputy speaker Sharingain Longkumer had replied to him on October 30 that the October 4 meeting was postponed on the request of Governor RN Ravi who had scheduled a meeting that day with NPF legislators. And though revised dates of October 7 and 9 were suggested, Zeliang had declined as he pointed out that all NPF MLAs would be in Arunachal Pradesh to participate in the party’s reorganisation there. NDPP claimed the alternate dates suggested were proof of the ruling coalition’s commitment to discussing and involving opposition members on the Naga political issue, while regretting that Zeliang had instead taken the opportunity to insult the offices of speaker, deputy speaker and the State government by accusing them of not convening JLF meeting.
Accusing Zeliang of misleading not only the people of Nagaland but also his own NPF legislators, NDPP said the very fact that he and his party felt the urgent need to be in Arunachal Pradesh for reorganising the party there instead of discussing the Naga political issue spoke volumes of their commitment towards finding a common stand in resolving the Naga political issue.
It reminded Zeliang that chief ministers and his cabinet colleagues meet Central leaders in their official capacity and were not required to keep the opposition members informed of their official engagements. But it was amusing that Zeliang, like a sulking child, had taken offence to such visits of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and his council of ministers, it added.
Referring to NPF president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu’s defence of Zeliang and opposition MLAs’ statement on separate Naga flag and constitution that appeared in local dailies of October 6, NDPP pointed out that the statement was in contravention to the JLF resolution of August 7, 2019 where it was clearly mentioned that “JLF will play the role of an active facilitator and continue to meet with all stakeholders, including the Government of India, and sincerely appealed to the negotiating parties to come together and rise above all differences.”
Nowhere was it mentioned that the legislators could take a stand that contravened the August 7 resolution, said NDPP and asked NPF to clarify whether its legislators had decided to reject the resolution adopted in the presence of all 60 elected representatives of NLA.
Stating that similar statement– “no compromise on ‘flag’ and ‘yezhabo’”– was also made by former NLA speaker Dr Imtiwapang Aier on September 10 this year at Kubulong, NDPP explained that in view of such statements made by the NPF leaders, the PDA leadership felt the need to convene an urgent meeting of JLF to discuss the issues at hand, which the opposition party had decided to forgo once again.
NDPP also dismissed Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee president K Therie’s accusation that the PDA and its leadership of trying to escape responsibilities as “amusing” as he was “unceremoniously removed not once but twice” from the office of minister because of his immaturity and callousness in taking matters and responsibilities seriously.
According to NDPP, Therie’s allegation that the endorsement of JLF resolutions was a clear indication of PDA’s attempt to escape responsibility was absurd, as the PDA leaders, as members of the front, were signatories to the resolutions. The resolutions were not frivolously drafted or adopted, but arrived at after thorough discussions, deliberations and application of clear and sober minds, it added.
Asserting that the PDA leaders stood steadfast to their principles and beliefs, come what may, the statement said they would own responsibility or take credit when due and would never pass on the blame or shirk from responsibilities.
Admitting that Therie’s assertion that people were reaping the benefits of 16-point Agreement and Article 371 (A) was partly correct, NDPP, however, pointed out that the benefits would have been much more had the successive Congress governments at the Centre sincerely and duly fulfilled all the provisions of the agreement, instead of unilaterally violating the mutually-agreed points, or remaining conspicuously silent on crucial ones.
For instance, it pointed out that Nagaland was brought under the Union home ministry from external affairs ministry in 1972 without consulting the Naga people; the funding pattern was drastically changed in 1989 in total contravention of Point 11 which specifically states that “to supplement the revenues of Nagaland, there will be need for the Government of India to pay out of the Consolidated Fund of Nagaland and a grant-in-aid towards meeting the cost of administration …” NDPP accused the Congress governments at the Centre of also taking no action on consolidating forest areas and contiguous Naga-inhabited areas because of which the political movement had been exacerbated and prolonged to a great extent.
Terming the NPCC’s fears as to what would happen if Nagaland was downgraded as “too pessimistic”, NDPP declared that it had full faith in the wisdom of the negotiating parties and was confident that they would negotiate and “bring us something better than what we already have”.
NDPP said it was confident that the parties at the negotiating table were having talks to end bloodshed and violence, and not to create a civil war– to usher in an era of peace, progress and prosperity for all, and not create chaos and mayhem in the society and country.
“We also have faith in the Government of India and its assurance that Article 371 (A) shall remain post-solution,” the party stressed.
Therie himself had been in several ministries in the past and had been actively associated with the policies of both “equi-distance” and “equi-closeness” towards the Naga national movement. Hence, he should know better than the common person that no government or ministry facilitated multiple taxation or multiple-government administrations. And being a seasoned leader, he should know, rather than ask, what was an honourable solution and what was acceptable to the people. He should rest assured that the PDA government had been continuously conveying to the Government of India and the parties concerned the wishes and aspirations of the people, the statement further stated.
Mentioning that democracies did not function at the whims and fancies of some frustrated minds, NDPP said democratically-established governments were never dismissed on mere allegations as made by the Congress leader. And people were now better off than they were when the Congress ruled at the Centre and the State, it claimed.
The PDA government would take each and every citizen of the State towards an era of peace and development, NDPP promised.
Further reiterating its commitment to the people of standing with them on resolving the Naga political issue early and duly respecting their wishes and decisions, NDPP assured that no unilateral decision would be taken by the PDA without consulting the people who were the actual stakeholders of the Naga issue.