NPCC demands removal of TR Zeliang, Y Patton

Dimapur, April 2 (EMN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has demanded the ‘removal’ of Advisor for Finance TR Zeliang and Home Minister Y Patton from their positions in the Nagaland government. The NPCC issued a press release on Sunday holding former chief minister TR Zeliang for Nagaland’s yet another huge deficit of Rs. 463.52 crore. Likewise, the Congress alleged that Home Minister Y Patton had ‘defended’ illegal appointments in the police department and shifting blame on police commandants and superintendents. “NPF-BJP government is wholly responsible for adding another Rs. 463.52 crores deficit during last financial year 2016-17 thereby shooting up the overall deficit figures to Rs. 1657.87 crores,” the NPCC stated. “The total state budget of 2016-17 at Rs. 13,658.75 crores had little impact on ground while another deficit of Rs. 463.52 crores has been added. TR Zeliang who was the chief minister and also minister in-charge of Finance during this period 2016-17 is wholly answerable for adding this Rs. 463.52 crores deficit within a year.” Here, the Congress termed “sad irony” that even after being deposed as chief minister of the state, TR Zeliang continues to “illegally occupy” the post of advisor for Finance and “merrily presides” over the issues of state finance. “NPCC demands White Paper be brought out on adding Rs. 463.52 crores to a deficit of Rs. 1657.87 crores since this abnormal increase is a matter of great concern and TR Zeliang be sacked immediately from the post of advisor (for) Finance for creating havoc with state finances.” As for Home Minister Y Patton, the NPCC strongly noted his alleged “defending backdoor appointments in police departments taking shelter under the 2010 P&AR memorandum that excluded the police departments while also shifting blame on SPs and commandants for appointments of constables.” The police superintendents and commandants could not have made unauthorized appointments without the blessings of the higher-up, the NPCC reminded. “Despite knowing that there were more than 1, 600 excess appointments when he took over in 2014, he has miserably failed to streamline the excess personnel and rather appointed more than 2000 unauthorized personnel's on one pretext or the other,” the Congress alleged. “No amount of justification will wash away the illegal actions of the Home Minister and for which NPCC out rightly demands his removal from the cabinet.” To the CMO: ‘Claims of CM’s sacrifice makes no sense’ The Congress party has also remarked that the position of Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu as chief minister of Nagaland will be legitimized only by winning a by-election. “The CMO media cell statement on Chief Minister Dr Shurhozelie making supreme sacrifice in contesting as independent candidate during 1999 parliamentary elections to salvage and regain the frozen party symbol (cock) by ECI does not make sense,” the NPCC stated. “CMO media cell is reminded that Dr Shurhozelie position as chief minister will only be legitimized in the eyes of the people if he is able to successfully contest by-elections within the next few months otherwise he will always be known as ‘default CM’,” the Congress quipped. “Dr Shurhozelie becoming chief minister is the manifestation of leadership deficit in both NPF-BJP as there was no other suitable candidate among 59 sitting legislators to replace TR Zeliang.”