EMN
DIMAPUR, February 3
Imkong Imchen, spokesperson of the Legislature Party of the Noke led NPF while giving numerous reasons why they have lost confidence in T R Zeliang, has clarified on the issue of change of leadership within the NPF which has necessitated the summoning of the emergent session of the Nagaland legislative Assembly. According to Imkong Imchen, on January 4, 2015 an overwhelming majority of the NPF legislators comprising of 22 MLAs unanimously resolved to elect G. Kaito Aye as the Leader of the NPF Legislature Party as the majority of the MLAs had lost confidence in the leadership of incumbent T.R Zeliang.
He said in about seven months under the chief ministership of TR Zeliang, the State has been engulfed from crisis to crisis. The Chief Minister has totally failed to provide efficient administration as development was pushed to the backseat with widespread instability and the government was made to function under the control of a few who formed a syndicate, Imkong alleged.
According to Imkong Imchen, the disqualification of the three BJP MLAs has created a serious rift between the BJP led NDA Government at the Centre and the DAN Government in Nagaland.
The burning of bridges between the State Government and the Centre has adversely impacted the State on all fronts.
Most importantly, the ongoing peace process has been totally sidelined. The role of active facilitator in the political dialogue which the DAN has been seriously pursuing no longer exists. The NPF has changed its political stand as pre-condition has been introduced in the political stand as mentioned in the presidential address during the NPF convention in November 2013, he stated.
In order to satisfy one and all, the chief minister started creating posts of advisers and chairmen of departments that does not exist. For example even small cells of certain departments were headed by Advisers with Cabinet status which nullified all purposes and procedures of the Rules of Executive Business and made governance a mockery, Imkong Imchen added.
Imkong then aleged that the feelings and wishes of the people became secondary as the government tried to bulldoze its way in order to please private companies for the selfish gains of few individuals. For example, when the students’ fraternity and civil society organizations opposed the launching of oil exploration in Wokha district, 144 CrPC was imposed, students were lathi charged and the launching programme was forcefully launched, he further alleged.
The allocation of oil contracts has become most controversial and there are serious allegations of corruption, kickbacks and transfer of black money. We have demanded the chief minister to order a CBI investigation but he has kept mum on this subject, Imkong added.
The DAN alliance has not functioned for the last seven months since the change of guard. In fact the spirit of the alliance was totally broken when political parties which were not part of the pre-poll alliance were suddenly included as DAN partners. Not a single DAN coordination committee meeting was called and the NPF President summoned a meeting only when the present crisis erupted.
According to Imkong Imchen, other issue includes our opposition to a weak leadership where the chief minister has become like a puppet to a syndicate of few persons. The present government was functioning under an environment where the former NPF president, Dr. Shurhozelie functioned in a dictatorial and autocratic manner. The majority view was not respected and suspensions and disqualifications became the tools to suppress the voice of the majority, he said.
“The minority chief minister started passing illegal orders against all laid down rules making his personal family members in-charge of government programmes and policies. For example, the Chief Minister issued orders to all government officers under Peren district to only follow the instructions of his nephews and brothers while implementing government projects,” he added.
The spokesperson of Noke led NPF Legislature Party then said that as a last resort the Chief Minister has made an appeal to the MLAs to exercise their vote according to their free will and clear conscience however he has given instructions to the illegal chief whip to issue a whip to all MLAs to vote in his favour. “Where is the question of a conscience vote when he issued a dictatorial whip?,” Imkong asked. The whip issued by Kiyanielie Peseyie is illegal and the legal Chief Whip elected by the majority of the NPF legislators, Shri Kuzholuzo Nienu will be issuing the legitimate whip, he added.
“The minority chief minister has publicly stated that all doors are closed for any reconciliation and understanding. However, we the majority of the NPF legislators and party organization make a sincere appeal to all our honorable colleagues to come forward and join the majority in the true spirit of democracy and prevalence of majority voice. We have stated that our doors are always open for one and all and they shall remain open. We are confident that our colleagues will exercise their sacred vote in a manner which will represent the voice of the people in true independent spirit upholding the strongest traditions of democracy,” the spokesperson of the Noke led NPF Legislature Party said.
“We further welcome the appeal of the Naga civil societies for us to reconcile. We have made all efforts to reconcile for several months led by all the senior leaders but unfortunately all our sincere efforts were never heeded. However, mentioned above, our doors are still open and we welcome the spirit of understanding, oneness and unity in the greater interest of the people of Nagaland,” Imkong Imchen added.
