Nagaland NewsNPF, NPCC slam govt’s reply to Governor

NPF, NPCC slam govt’s reply to Governor

Govt has humiliated Governor: NPFLP

NPF Legislature Party (NPFLP) hit out at the state government’s reply to the Governor’s letter by terming it as an “unsavoury response” and “nothing but an assorted collection of distorted facts and figures to deceive the Governor and the Nagas at large.”

NPFLP said, after taking charge on August 1, 2019, Governor R.N. Ravi’s observation revealed the precarious law and order situation prevailing in the state, which cannot be merely dubbed as a study that “does not appear to be factual.” 

It pointed out that Ravi, a 1976-batch IPS officer and former Deputy National Security Advisor served the nation in various capacities and was not a schoolboy to not understand the basic parameters of identifying law and order situation in the State. 

NPF noted with disappointment that the state government had dismissed the findings of “a man of such calibre” merely as one that “does not appear to be factual”. NPF said the state government had also humiliated Ravi in public domain in the state, regional and national media. “This is display of political shrewdness of the cheapest standard,” it added.

NPFLP demanded to know as to what had prevented the chief minister and his cabinet, at the June 19 meeting with the Governor, from telling the him that the end result of his observation was not ‘factual’?

It said when the issue could have been clarified officially at the June 19 meeting, was it necessary for the government to “publicly humiliate the Governor” by challenging the factuality of his observation in public domain through I&PR department? 

NPFLP said as evident and noted by the Governor, there has been steady down-slide in all parameters of development in Nagaland under the present day government. It said these were due to alleged siphoning off huge amount of funds meant for road connectivity, healthcare, education infrastructures etc. by diverting them to various non-functional projects. 

While the economy of the state continued to be in doldrums, NPFLP said the state’s financial position was kept under wraps for reasons best known to those at the helm of power. Taking a jibe at the government’s refusal to disclose the actual financial position of the state, NPFLP said this was probably the much-hyped catchphrase on transparency and accountability. 

On the ongoing Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane road construction and various other road projects under MoRTH, NPFLP said sanction was accorded through the initiative of the previous government but the project was incomplete till today.

NPFLP also pointed out that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed under the direction of the Governor, to prevent unlawful activities and book miscreants obstructing the 4-lane road work, but it was yet to come up with any tangible result till date.

NPFLP said that the stand of the state government to the governor, that the law and order continues to be “normal and peaceful”, held no water. 

It pointed out that business establishments were being threatened on a daily basis by anti-social elements, especially in Dimapur. NPFLP said such incidents go unreported due to the lack of trust of public on government machineries. This situation only allowed such elements to take maximum advantage and at times malign the image of the Naga national movement. 

It pointed out that the best example of the “laid-back attitude” of the government was the way it dealt with the Public Action Committee (PAC) formed under the aegis of Naga Council Dimapur.

It pointed out that the PAC had served an ultimatum on the state government (till July 31) to initiate an anti-crime Act similar to the ‘Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)’ or the ‘Goonda Act’ to control organised crime. NPFLP however said that the government remained in deep hibernation and paid scant regard to PAC and other civil societies who have come out to address grievances of the public. 

NPFLP reiterated that the state government will sooner or later, have to come face to face with the harsh reality and cautioned that the rage of the general public was growing every single day and that a final culmination was not very far off.

NPFLP said the Governor had cited several problems in the state that have emerged since the instruments of law and order remained totally unresponsive. 

Healthcare and education have hit rock bottom while the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has made the matter worse, it added.

NPFLP also said that the grievances of public and those at various quarantine centres continue to surface every now and then but many went unattended.

It cited the Tuensang and Peren fiascos, which it said, portrayed the incompetency and negligence of the government in handling the pandemic and which might lead to risk of possible community transmission .

NPFLP also stated that the genuine demands of the Eastern Naga People Organisation (ENPO) and the Zeliangrong Students Union, Nagaland (ZSUN) have failed to find logical conclusion till date.

Further, NPFLP charged the state government of “nepotism”, in the recent state cabinet decision to regularize the post of 27 GDMOs, appointed on contractual basis on May 27, 2020 for a period of 12 months. However, when pressure mounted , NPFLP said the decision on the plea of shortage of manpower to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, had to be revoked.

Adding to the over-all burden of the public, NPFLP said that the COVID cess on fuel has led to sharp rise in prices of various commodities in the state. 

Assessing the present state of affairs, NPFLP said that one cannot help but come to the conclusion that the raison d’être of the present day government was not for the welfare of its citizens as it ought to be. 

“In any case, the autocratic functioning of the state government since the past more than 2 years speaks for itself,” NPFLP stated.

Govt reply an insult to public: NPCC
Congress said the state government’s reply to the Governor’s letter (addressed to the chief minister) was “an insult to the public” when it claimed that “law and order is normal”. In a statement, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K. Therie reiterated that since the regional party came to power, the writ of the state government has been “surrendered” to parallel self-styled governments .
 Claiming that self styled governments are more feared that the state government he said social media reflected this when people were afraid to criticise the self styled governments but not the state government. 
He said was no security to life and property where entrepreneurs, contractors and suppliers became prey to well armed predators who got their weapons from state armouries.
 Therie cited a response of the chief minister, to a starred question on the floor of the assembly in 2012, that 44,550 rounds of ammunition and 152 arms were lost from police custody. He opined that the figure could be much higher as “uncontrolled factional wars escalated in the following period.”
On the police report, Therie agreed that factional clashes have come down because of the understanding among all factions but not because of the government’s control over law and order.
Therie also said “illegal collections” have increased many fold as all nine self-styled governments agree to collect money through understanding. He said the self styled governments “sit together in state police check gates and collect their shares” openly. They also collect monthly and annual tax on wholesale to retail sales by going from shop to shop.
On the police report on arrests, Therie said though these figures may be true, yet many of those arrested by Assam Rifles and Police were released even before reaching police stations on orders “ given from political leaders”. He said some cadres detained under NSA for one year, were released with no further case. He said public know how many were killed, murdered, assassinated, kidnapped, ransom paid including killing of some entrepreneurs in broad daylight.
Therie said factions sometimes claim responsibility for crimes but cases are registered “against unknown persons”. He said in Dimapur, killings went on regularly for over ten years but cases registered against unknown persons. 
On tax imposed on carriage transport, he said every vehicle entering Nagaland had to pay amount depending on the number of tyres or taxed item-wise. He claimed that extortion on government funds have increased since the state government itself “facilitates extortion” by informing finance department release orders. 
Armed with information, Therie said DDOs and contractors are ordered by various factions to pay some percentage and that even MLAs and ministers also receive their commissions.
He said many DDOs took advantage of this situation and cited the RD department where VDB secretaries and VCCs were compelled to sign on blank cheques. Therie also mentioned collection of 24% annual tax on a month’s salary from government employees . He said reiterated that Nagaland is “fully embroiled under extortion, illegal collection and corruption” and no one is free, either directly or indirectly. 
Taking a jibe, Therie said for the state government, “the above situation are normal”. Hitting out at police report again, Therei said it showed no conviction rate while the state government has blamed lack of forensic laboratory. He said forensic samples are currently sent to Kolkata Forensic Laboratory. He asked what was stopping the state government from having one?. 
Therie also said Gauhati High Court had directed CBI to probe cases but so far there has been no outcome. He said even central probe agencies have “failed in Nagaland.”
Therie reminded that the Naga plebiscite did not “authorise extortion, illegal collection or corruption” but since it was a human problem talks were initiated without pre-conditions.
Instead of defending itself, Therei said the state government should admit, the existence of parallel governments as a fact to demand early political solution.
Therie, cited oft stated offer of the state government, that it would pave way for acceptable solution. He therefore, urged upon the government of India “ to be pleased to comply with their offer and implement the political solution through a neutral government.”
 

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