EMN
DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 20
The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) on February 20 reiterated that the former Roads and Bridges (R&B) Minister, Kuzholuzo Nienu (Azo) must honour the agreement to withdraw the defamation lawsuits filed against contractors A. Neangba Konyak and Yashitsungba Aier.
Four Dimapur-based news dailies are also named as ‘proforma defendants’ in the case filed by Nienu in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kohima.“The NFHRCC was under the impression that the former minister had already withdrawn the cases as assured by him. However, the former minister instead of withdrawing the cases rigorously pursuing it, which is highly unbecoming on the part of the popularly elected leader,” stated the NFHRCC.
Stating that the lawsuits, which are still pending in court, was “seriously noted” by the committee in the meeting held today, the NFHRCC reminded of the October 10, 2014 agreement at the Dimapur Deputy Commissioner’s official residence wherein “the committee and the former minister amicably agreed to resolve all misunderstandings under the principle of forgive and forget.” The agreement included the mutual withdrawal of the cases filed at the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court by the NFHRCC recommended contractor against the PWD (R&B) and the defamation cases filed by Nienu. It was reaffirmed subsequently on October 29, 2014 at the residence of the former R&B Minister in Kohima. Consequent to the agreement, A. Neangba withdrew his against the PWD (R&B) on October 31, it was added.
Stating that a copy of the withdrawal order was “made available” to the department concerned, the NFHRCC said that it was Nienu, who asked that the case against the PWD (R&B) be first withdrawn and that he will follow suit.
Further, it was informed that at the meeting held today, the NFHRCC alongwith the contractors (of the Mon sector) reaffirmed the February 14 decision to temporarily suspend work at the Mon sector till an amicable settlement is arrived between the NFHRCC and the Konyak Union.
