Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, JULY 28
ALARMED over the direction towards which the merger of three NCP lawmakers with the BJP in Nagaland appears to be headed, the saffron party’s troubleshooter – its trusted shadow man – Sundhansu Mittal arrived here yesterday and held “extensive talks” with Chief Minister, TR Zeliang.
Mittal, who is a member of the BJP National Executive, and also the party’s special envoy to the North East, told reporters Monday morning that the controversy surrounding the merger was “one issue (which is) causing great concern to the BJP” leaders back in Delhi.
While maintaining that the three NCP legislators had exercised their rights provided within the provisions of law – which allows such “merger” to take place if more than two-thirds of the legislators from the party concerned are in agreement – Mittal said that the reaction from the NLA Speaker, in the form of show-cause notices to the three legislators, has not only “shocked us but has also disappointed us.”
He contended that the Speaker’s decision to dispatch show-cause notices was, in fact, a wholesome contravention of the provision of rules of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. Mittal pointed out that, for the Speaker to act as he had, the rule demands that any objection(s) to the “merger” must come from a member of the Legislative Assembly.
Reportedly, the Speaker had acted upon the complaint of an NCP official, who is not an elected member to the NLA. As such, Mittal said, the BJP was “very surprised” over the fact that the Speaker had even entertained the complaint.
Secondly, protocol demands that any show-cause notice(s) of such nature should be issued within ten days of the receipt of complaint, he pointed out. However, the Speaker had once again flouted the rule by issuing the same almost a after a month after the complaint was filed, Mittal maintained.
According to the BJP leader, the complaint to the Speaker was petitioned on June 21, 2014, whereas the show-cause notices to the three legislators were issued only on July 18 last. “A suitable legal reply shall be given to the Speaker within the stipulated period of 20 days,” Mittal informed.
In between, the BJP representative threw in a subtle warning. “Any attempt to disqualify them (the three legislators) would be very unfortunate and not acceptable to the BJP,” he asserted.
“I am hoping that decisions will be taken within the four walls of legality and not out of political consideration,” Mittal said while contending that the three legislators had “followed the valid procedure.”
“BJP has not assured of any financial package(s)”
Notwithstanding the mad-rush towards Delhi among Naga legislators, interjected by an “assurance” from a local BJP leader that financial aide would arrive from the present government in Delhi, BJP leader Sundhansu Mittal on Monday poured cold water over such a hopeful notion.
When a reporter informed Mittal of the statement made by an official of the Nagaland BJP unit that its government in Delhi would provide financial aide to Nagaland, the BJP leader retorted that the local leader, and his assurance, “was not a representative” of the party in Center. His statement had not been endorsed by the BJP, Mittal said. The BJP, he said, was aware of the “grim” financial situation in Nagaland. “The party (BJP) and the government have taken cognizance of the situation,” was his terse reply.
Mittal however suggested that Nagas can look forward to a “new era of development” after years of being ignored by the Congress “because of political reasons or sheer negligence.”
Citing the current Union budget allocation for the North East region, Mittal said that it was a reflection of the BJP’s commitment to the region. “BJP will leave no stone unturned to bring development to Nagaland, especially the roads, the infrastructure, power and education.”
“Funds will be available,” he said. However, it is up to the state government to “seize the opportunity”, Mittal remarked, loaded with political overtones.
