Rise above party politics for Naga issue — Rio

Says state can’t take decision on matter of providing security to WC-NNPG leaders

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 11 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday urged the state’s legislators to work together for the sake of the people to resolve the protracted Naga political issue.

‘Be it in the treasury bench or opposition bench, we should rise above our party policies and programmes and work together unitedly to resolve the issue and move forward,’ he said, adding that there are so many issues in the Naga society.

“We are a land of trouble. We are a land of insurgency. We are a land marked as AFSPA to deal with us. We need peace and development and progress for the youth and for the younger generations to come,” he said.

On the NPF’s proposal for the new nomenclature instead of the existing Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) on Naga political issue, Rio said that the opposition shouldn’t propose something and tell government to do what they think. It needs discussion; otherwise, it will “embarrass” the government as well as themselves, he added.

He said that JLF is “dear” to them and has been there for more than a decade; numerous meetings being held and resolutions been passed. When PDA government with BJP, NDPP, and Independent are still in JLF, how can the opposition say that we should do away with that and come to a new nomenclature? he asked.

Further, neither NLA Speaker nor JLF has done anything wrong that demands its dissolution and find another nomenclature or to start from zero again,’ Rio asserted. “We cannot discard our history and our hard work throughout the year,” he said, adding that he was in the opposition in the past and they were all a part of JLF and had no issues.

“You don’t give me condition; I won’t dictate terms with you but for the sake of people we have to come together to resolve issues and to move forward,” Rio maintained.

He went on to say that Opposition leader TR Zeliang had endorsed the seven-point resolutions of a consultative meeting on October 15, in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah, during their last meeting in Delhi. Shah had directed Zeliang to endorse the resolutions in a joint press conference, to which he complied, but it turned otherwise during the joint press conference, he stated.

On providing security to WC-NNPG leaders

When asked whether the state government has received any information from the Ministry of Home Affairs in regard to Governor’s letter to provide security to the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPG), Rio replied that a cabinet sitting was held but the state cannot take its own decision. Therefore, it had written to the Home Ministry seeking advice. Further, Home minister is empowered to handle it, he said.

Citing the ground rules, Rio said that the negotiating parties should be in their designated camps. ‘It is not formally allowed for them to stay in public places and if it is a threat to them, than what about the general public? It is very vulnerable and complicated,’ he said.

On Yangseo Sangtam

As to whether PDA will accommodate the Independent candidate, T Yangseo Sangtam, Rio replied that PDA will discuss about the matter. He added that “independent is independent” and they cannot join any party. If they want, they can support the government, he said, adding that ‘for us we can work together but they have their own restriction’.

Taking into consideration the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the chief minister has urged the people to take “state economy” seriously. While other states pay taxes, Nagaland does not, which is why the people don’t understand state economy, he added.

Nagaland does not pay tax but still receives deficit grants, GST and custom duties from the centre. In everything, we wait for Delhi to give us financial support, he said. ‘Every month, we have a deficit of INR 108 crore, when multiplied by 12 months (in a year), we will have deficit by more than INR 1000 crore,’ he pointed out.

To solve the economic issue, the state government is initiating programmes to train youths, and promote agri and allied sectors so that we can become a self-sufficient state. It is a challenge for the government and for the youth as well, he said while calling upon the citizens to participate and work hard to earn and build the society.