Govt will rectify defects in Municipal Act: CM

Kohima, March 28 (EMN): Chief minister Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu on Tuesday announced that the state government will have a thorough re-look into the Nagaland Municipal Act with a view to rectify any defects in the Act, and incorporate new provisions and safeguards as may be found necessary. “This process will be done in consultation with the civil society, tribal organizations and other stake holders,” the chief minister said while making his budget speech at the ongoing assembly session. “While it is the democratic right of every citizen to form groups or organizations, we, at the same time, need to learn how to resolve our differences through the process of dialogue and consultations, and to refrain from frequent resort to bandhs and violence which are alien to our core Naga culture,” Liezietsu stated. While pointing out the need to adapt some of “our” culture and traditions to meet the requirements of the present 21st century, he expressed hope that consultations and dialogue would yield a positive outcome and pave way for the smooth conduct of ULB elections in future. Later during a press conference, former chief minister and advisor Finance, TR Zeliang, during whose term the ULB issue erupted, supplemented Liezietsu’s statement, saying that according to the state assembly and the state government, the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 which was amended in 2006 was still the guideline. He asserted that the people and civil bodies were of the view that the 33% reservation for women is not applicable to Nagaland. “The only thing that can be done is for the NGOs and tribal Hohos to bring their suggestion to the government, on how they want the ULB elections to be carried out,” Zeliang said.