Reacting to the scathing attack on the Nagaland Governor as well as the BJP by the NPF at the latter’s CEC meeting in Kohima Tuesday, Nagaland BJP reiterated that it fully backed the clarion call given by prime minister Narendra Modi, to provide corruption-free good governance to the people and asked, why was the Naga People’s Front (NPF) “defending corruption by blaming BJP?”
Referring to criticism against the Governor by NPF ministers at the meeting in Kohima, State BJP spokesman Yanghose Sangtam, asked why was NPF questioning the visits to villages by the Governor since as head of the state, he could go to any place and meet people in order to understand problems.
The BJP spokesman also reiterated that NGOs, organisations or political parties were free to call on the Governor of the state at Raj Bhavan to air grievances.
Responding to the NPF ministers that BJP legislators were given “good portfolios”; Sangtam said people of the state know whether the so-called “good portfolio” were “actually important portfolios”. Sangtam pointed out that portfolios given to BJP legislators, were held by parliamentary secretary Mmhonlumo before he was sacked on October 28 included-labour & employment, cooperation, skill development and border affairs. The other portfolios held by BJP legislators included- transport & communication, treasuries and accounts.
Further, he also clarified that the state BJP president and vice chairman of DAN was accorded status of parliamentary secretary and not cabinet status as claimed by the NPF minister at the CEC meeting. Since the CEC meeting “confirmed” that the status given to the state BJP president and vice chairman DAN was of cabinet status, Sangtam urged the NPF-led DAN government to regularise the status of cabinet with immediate effect.
Hitting out NPF for claiming that BJP was surviving because of NPF, he instead reminded that present DAN government was “surviving on the oxygen given by the BJP-led NDA govt”. Sangtam said though BJP and NPF had been allies from 2003 to 2009, the alliance was broker in 2009 when two BJP legislators joined NPF and which included present home minister. He said the DAN alliance was revived during the 2013 assembly elections.
The BJP also reaffirmed its resolution adopted at the 2nd BJP executive meeting in Mokokchung on June 24, 2016 on the “Open Door Policy” so that any political party could join BJP without any precondition “including the NPF”.
Meanwhile, former additional advocate general Nagaland Pius Lotha has backed the Governor P.B.Acharya against the attacks made by NPF ministers on Tuesday in Kohima. Pius in a statement, said the Governor, had only exercised his prerogative to visit places and enquire about the welfare of citizens under his jurisdiction. He said as per Article 154(i) the governor had executive powers which he exercised directly or through his subordinate officers as per the constitution.
Also as per Article 371(1)(c), the Governor has the power to recommend and demand or grant and to ensure that money provided by the government of India out of the consolidated fund was utilised for the specific purpose given and not otherwise.
Pius maintained that as per the above Article, the Governor was vested with powers as the guardian of the state to look into the affairs and functioning of the state for good governance.
Pius also said the Governor was only performing his constitution role by raising concerns against rampant corruption in the government . Instead of retaliating with derogatory remarks, he said any responsible government would have brought corrective measures instead of dragging the office of the Governor to the level of base politics.
The former addl.Advocate General also reminded that as the Governor is the first citizen of the state, the office should be honoured since the Governor was the constitutional guardian and represented the president of India to ensure good governance and check against anarchy.
A senior party member also expressed dismay over dragging Nagaland Governor, P.B. Acharya into a political slugfest.
He said that the Governor had rightly pointed the rampant corruption that has plagued the state. As the constitutional head, he has every right to point out the hard truth.
Terming it as unfortunate and baseless to demean the image of Raj Bhavan, as a place for BJP and RSS, he reminded that the BJP already has its office at Dimapur.
He said since the NPF-led government was unable to respond to the truth pointed out by the Governor and the BJP, the only option left was to level baseless allegations.