Dimapur, July 2 (EMN): Nagaland government has contended that Governor RN Ravi‘s assessment of law and order situation in the state as “precarious and grim and having deteriorated and collapsed since August 2019” does not appear to be factual.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government reminded that the state of Nagaland was born out of a political settlement. “However, in the last 57 years of its existence, the political problem still remains unresolved.
“This issue has been acknowledged as a political issue and the government of India has been negotiating with Naga political groups (NPGs) since 1997. These political negotiations are being held at the highest level with successive prime ministers, including the present prime minister meeting the leadership of the political organisation. The government of India has appointed an interlocutor as representative of the GoI to carry out the political dialogue since declaration of the ceasefire and inception of the political talks,” read the statement.
It stated that Ravi’s appointment as the governor, in addition to his role as interlocutor, was welcomed by all with high expectations that the talks would successfully conclude with an honourable and acceptable political solution.
“The central government is in a ceasefire agreement with the Naga national political groups for more than two decades and the talks are reported to have concluded in October 2019 and accordingly the people are expecting an early political solution. The state government feels that terming the organisations as ‘armed gangs’ may not be in the interest of the peace process and may not be congenial to the achievement of lasting peace which is the desire of both the GoI and the state government. The state government is of the view that with the signing of the 2015 framework agreement and the conclusion of the negotiations on October 31, 2019, the issue of sustenance of the political organisations should have been discussed and resolved,” it stated.
The government went on to state that Nagaland has come a long way from precarious law and order, and security situation in the last several decades. “There have been assassination attempts on the lives of VIPs including the incumbent chief minister when he was the then Works and Housing minister on May 30, 1995, and serious challenges to fulfilment of constitutional obligations like participating in elections.
“Despite these challenges the Constitution has always been upheld. The voting percentage in successive state elections which has ranged between 78% to 92% in the last three decades is a testimony to the people’s support for the constitutional process. It was also pointed out that the voting percentage of Nagaland in the national elections has been consistently above the national voting percentage. The period through the 1990s witnessed the most volatile security environment when killings of common people, fratricidal deaths, and violent factional clashes took place on a regular basis,” it further read.
However, the overall law and order situation in the state continues to be normal and peaceful, it reminded. “All the wings of the law and order machinery of the state are working effectively in tandem to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the state. From time to time, however, there have been occasions when antisocial and unruly elements at certain places have made attempts to vitiate the situation by trying to impose illegal taxes and carry out extortions, and the state police has been all along very proactive in dealing with such cases.”
Against principles of democracy
On the matter relating to Article 371 (A) (1) (b), the state government pointed out that this procedure of taking approval of governor for transfer and posting of senior government officials was done away with after a resolution adopted by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on December 17, 2013.
“Ever since the curtains have fallen on this issue and Nagaland has come at par with other states in this respect. The state government is of the view that any decision to put the clock back in contravention of such a resolution in the guise of discharging special responsibilities under Art. 371 (A) (1) (b) would be against the principles of democracy and would be viewed as anti-people and we must not roll back the state to the era of 1960s, the period of formation of Nagaland state,” it asserted.
The state government, it stated, has been seized of the matter of land encroachment including on government Forest land. These issues are being dealt with the utmost seriousness but require constant effort as they have accumulated over a long period of time, it added.
“The conviction rates, which in any situation is dependent on various factors, has also received due attention of the government. The capacities of the investigating officers are being built by imparting several trainings to them in a structured manner. Steps have been taken for upgrading the forensic capabilities in the state and regular review meetings are being taken in the districts with all concerned for sorting out legal issues and ensuring rise in the conviction rates,” read the statement.
With regard to prices of essential commodities, it stated that while there may be some escalation of construction goods in Nagaland, all essential items in Nagaland are sold at or below specified Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
“There are no reports of essential goods and commodities, especially Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) being sold above MRP. Unlike in the past, many companies are now operating from within Nagaland and companies like Amazon now have operational offices in Kohima and Dimapur. In fact, most of the essential commodities, construction goods and consumer products are cheaper in Nagaland than in Manipur, Mizoram etc.”
With regard to improvement of road network all over the state, the matter remains a topmost priority for the state government, it asserted.
“Regarding projects being implemented by NHIDCL, the state government had last reviewed the progress on March 4, 2020 with MD of NHIDCL as well as the contractors and the senior state government officials including DCs of concerned districts. The meeting which was chaired by the chief minister, was also attended by the MD of NHIDCL and other officials. The feedback from the implementing agencies was that DCs and the state government were providing fullest support and co-operation to deal with any problems that they faced in execution of their projects,” it stated.
There was time in Nagaland when it was difficult to celebrate national days like Independence Day and the Republic Day peacefully, the government reminded.” Today, we not only celebrate these national days but also the annual state day on a grand scale with enthusiastic participation of the people from all walks of life.
“The improvement in the security environment of the state is also evident from the increased arrival of tourists during the Hornbill Festival which touched a record of 55,000 last year. Nagaland also hosted the North Eastern DGP Conference in 2019 for the very first time. Sporting events like, Dr. T Ao Football Trophy, Naga wrestling and a host of other national events are attracting record crowds. Likewise, music and arts are seen as the rising sectors of our economy,” it added.
The state government further pointed out that in the past three months, like the rest of the world and the country, Nagaland too has been battling the crisis of the global pandemic. “More than 2.12 lakh stranded migrants have been assisted with rations and meals, and 37,766 people of Nagaland stranded outside the state have been reached with cash assistance in a DBT mode becoming the first state in the country to do so.
“Special trains have also been arranged and paid for by the state government for their return to their home states. Citizens below the poverty line have been allocated relief rations for three months benefitting more than 4 lakh citizens of Nagaland. The state’s health facilities and infrastructure is being improved and upgraded on a war footing. Thousands of returnees are being provided all facilities of health care, food, accommodation and logistics at government expense to prevent the spread of the pandemic in the state. These are just some of the highlights of the actions and initiatives which the state government has undertaken in the past three and half months.
“The chief minister has been in constant touch with the prime minister, the union home minister and other ministers on a weekly basis as Nagaland joined the rest of the nation and the global community in combating the crisis. Likewise, the chief secretary and senior officials and AHODs etc. have been working relentlessly as members of Team Nagaland.,” it added.
