Rejecting NPCC’s allegations against the DAN government, the NPF media and press bureau said that the Congress party rejected by the people in the State and Centre over series of corruptions was trying to comeback through a media war.
However, NPF said that the citizens were not foolish to be swept away by cheap propaganda unleashed by the Congress party, which was rejected thrice by the Naga masses in the Assembly elections.
It further reminded NPCC, how T.R. Zeliang achieved the feat in forming the first “Congress Mukt” state in the Northeast.
NPF also hit back at the NPCC saying that the “dysfunctional party” talking about corruption of the DAN government by seeking the companionship of the Governor was “something like a hapless drowning man trying to grip a tiny twig against the torrential currents of mighty river”.
In a lengthy rejoinder, the NPF media and press bureau said that the Council of Ministers were accountable to the House, and since there was not a single Congress MLA, the “Congress has no moral right to call the Government through media”.
On SSA teachers’ salary, NPF said that the government will stick on its words and will release the salaries by November end. However, it clarified that teachers employed under SSA were to be paid under the centrally sponsored scheme and not from the State exchequer.
On this issue, NPF said NPCC cannot blame the government blindly as the “rules applies irrespective of which party runs the Govt”.
NPF also rubbished NPCC’s claim and said that Nagaland Legislative Assembly was the forum of Constitutionally-enabled free expression and that the voice of the MLA on the floor cannot be throttled by anyone as it would attract serious action under parliamentary privileges.
However, in the absence of opposition, the views of the MLAs were unanimous.
NPF made its position clear that the ratification of GST Bill by Nagaland has no nexus to article 371A (1)(a) of the Constitution of India, and therefore cannot be comparable to Jammu and Kashmir, which have a separate constitution .
Instead, NPF asked Congress, why it was making outrageous statements and demands, when it had failed to raise its voice on the eve of Assembly session for GST ratification.
On holding of civic polls with women reservation, NPF said that the decision of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to amend the Nagaland Municipal Act in 2006 to provide women reservation was unanimous. However, due to opposition from the tribal bodies, municipal elections with 33% reservation for women could not be held. But state government has decided to go ahead with women reservation and conduct the polls in accordance with the provisions of our own State Act, NPF said.
With regard to CM’s qualification issue, NPF advised NPCC not the drag the issue since the matter was sub judice. It clarified that Manipur MLA’s case decided by Supreme Court recently has no application to T.R. Zeliang, since the issue was an election petition and what was decided by the Peren JMRC in the Zeliang’s case was not an election petition, but a complaint under section 125A etc., of the Representation of the People Act.
Further, NPF said it welcomed those affected by any “feature of mal governance” to come forward with “tangible and verifiable evidence”, so that the issues would be taken up and resolved. Therefore, NPF asked NPCC to come through a “process of evidence, trial and tangible results so that public interests are promoted and precious time of the Party and the Government is not wasted in communiqués like this”.
On the issue of deplorable condition of National Highway from Tizit to Mon, raised by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs during his recent visit to Eastern Nagaland, the NPF said that the “Joint Secretary from the Centre deserves utmost gratitude of the Nagas”, in case he takes up the issue with centre.