Nagaland Lokayukta’s order reflects poor state of affairs in govt. machinery, says NPF

Dimapur, Sep. 21 (EMN): Citing the recent order passed by the Nagaland Lokayukta in connection with a complaint filed against Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, the opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) has stated that it is a clear reflection of the poor state of affairs in the entire government machinery.

The NPF issued a press release on Monday stating that it was appalled at the “callous and indifferent attitude” displayed Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in the matter of the Nagaland Lokayukta investigation into Patton’s “infamous remark”.

It referred to the Lokayukta’s observations that the chief minister “keeps a veiled contempt for the rule of law” and ‘failed to rise above petty local politics creating an impression that the enquiry has been deliberately delayed to suit some political expediency’.

“The NPF recalls that the PDA government of Nagaland had, in August 2020, sought to remove the Nagaland Lokayukta from his office by writing to the Supreme Court citing impropriety and abuse of power as reasons. In the light of the Lokayukta order under discussion, we are convinced that the futile attempt was a pre-emptive effort by the PDA government to oust the Nagaland Lokayukta from his office before he could make these scathing observations in his judgement on the deputy CM case,” it stated.

According to the party, it concurs with the judgement and observation of Nagaland Lokayukta “wherein, he has pointed out the irregularities committed by the chief minister of Nagaland in particular and the PDA government in general”.

Further, it stated that the Lokayukta’s recommendations against the advocate general (AG) of Nagaland, KN Balgopal, must be taken seriously because the position of AG is constitutional, not political.

“However, the opinion and recommendation against the AG by the Lokayukta is a poor reflection of the image of the PDA as to how this present government is even misusing this constitutional post of the AG. Therefore, time and again, the NPF reiterate that, if the PDA Government could not fulfil the aspirations of the people should step down on moral ground and pave the way for an alternate government for the betterment of the Naga society,” it asserted.