Frustration at governor’s inaction grows

Acharya acussed of being more concerned about BJP's affairs at the Centre  Kohima, Feb. 15: On Wednesday evening, a team of 12 NTAC members met governor PB Acharya and submitted a memorandum. NTAC members later told members of the press that they were disappointed at the outcome of the meeting as the governor had expressed his inability to act citing the ongoing elections in other states. “It appeared to us that the governor who holds the gubernatorial post in the state, instead of being concerned about the complete breakdown of constitutional machinery in his state, was more concerned about the position of his party – the BJP – at the Centre,” one of the NTAC members said. The governor was quoted as saying ‘drastic repercussions will take place if any action was taken at the moment’. In continuation to their earlier representation of February 3 last, the JCC and NTAC, in its memorandum, apprised the governor on the recent developments. Following the absence of the governor on February 2 in Kohima after assurance of his presence through his commissioner & secretary and his letter stating of his arrival on February 6, led to the mob violence resulting in destruction and burning down of 24 offices in the state capital.The JCC and NTAC reminded the governor that his assurance to the delegation of NTAC, Kohima on February 3 to take action “as per Constitution to punish the wrong doer” has not been acted upon. The organisations also reminded the governor that during their meeting on February 10 at the Raj Bhavan, about the “actual breakdown of Constitutional machineries in the state” and related representation submitted to him with a copy each addressed to the President of India, the Prime Minister of India and the Home Minister of India. “You are very much aware of the ground reality now, that for the unhurried manner of taking positive response from your high office, the situation is deteriorating day by day and there is every likelihood of a catastrophic consequence which we do not ever want to let happen under your gubernatorial reign,” the JCC and NTAC wrote. It was stated in the memorandum that chief minister TR Zeliang, instead of listening to the voice of the people and stepping down paving way for normalcy, continues to be “stubborn and adamant” basing on the numerical support of the legislators who, they alleged, were “kept in his captivity within the premises of the state’s chief minister’s official residence”. The JCC and the NTAC maintained that the voice of the people can no longer remain silent to “such grievous human sufferings” because of the apathetic legislators and his (governor’s) indecision and asserted that the governor was very much aware that the legislators were not being given liberty of sagacity under the “arrogant leadership of TR Zeliang” ever since the people have started raising the voice for his stepping down owning moral responsibility for all what has happened thus far. “We modestly implore to remind you of the enormity of negligence of the elected people’s representatives who obstinately and constantly are congregating with the chief minister in his official residence all these while without discharging their Constitutional duties as questionable in the eyes of law and demands curative measure,” the memo read. The JCC and NTAC requested the governor for a wise intervention and an appropriate action at the earliest. The memorandum was appended by NTAC convener KT Vilie and secretary CT Jamir on behalf of the JCC and the NTAC, Kohima. A Raj Bhavan press release also stated that the governor had urged the delegation to meet Zeliang and “the ruling DAN chairman to discuss and resolve the situation.” The governor has convened a meeting of all political party leaders in the state on Thursday at 4 pm at Raj Bhavan ‘to discuss the prevailing serious situation in the state’, it informed.