Zeliang not only misled people but also NPF legislators — NDPP

Dimapur, Oct. 31 (EMN): The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has turned the table on opposition leader TR Zeliang, and accused him of misleading not only the people but also his own NPF legislators in connection with the postponed meeting of the Joint Legislators Forum (JLF) on Naga political issue. An NDPP statement on Thursday maintained that the revised dates declined by Zeliang—on the basis that all NPF MLAs would be in Arunachal Pradesh and would not be convenient—was never mentioned in his letter to the Speaker. “Instead Mr. TR Zeliang took the opportunity to insult the august offices of the speaker, the deputy speaker and the ruling bench by accusing them of not convening the JLF meeting.  The very fact that the leader of opposition and the NPF party felt the urgent need to be in Arunachal Pradesh for reorganising their party instead of discussing the Naga political issue itself speaks volumes of their commitment towards finding a common stand,” it stated. As a former chief minister, Zeliang should know that the chief minister and cabinet members visit central leaders in their official capacity “and in no way need to keep the opposition members informed of their official engagements”, the party reminded. It also stated that the NPF president had tried to defend the statement of the leader of opposition and his legislators concerning the party’s stand on Naga flag and constitution. However, the NDPP stated, such a statement is in contravention of the JLF resolution of August 7, that the “JLF will play the role of an active facilitator and continue to meet with all stakeholders including the government of India and sincerely appealed to the negotiating parties to come together and rise above all differences.” On K Therie’s allegation that the PDA was attempting to escape its responsibilities, it described his statement as “rather amusing” coming from a person who was unceremoniously removed not once but twice as a minister because of his immaturity and callousness in taking matters and responsibilities seriously. “To allege that ‘the endorsement of the resolutions of the Joint Legislators’ Forum is clear indication of PDA’s attempt to escape responsibility’ is absurd when the PDA leaders themselves were signatories to the said resolutions being members of the JLF. The resolutions were not frivolously drafted or adopted, but arrived at after thorough discussions, deliberations and application of clear and sober minds,” it stated. The NPCC chief is partly correct when he said ‘we are reaping the benefits of 16-Point Agreement and Article 371 (A)’, according to the NDPP. “But the benefits would have been much more had the successive Congress governments at the Centre sincerely and duly fulfilled all the provisions of the Agreement instead of unilaterally violating the mutually-agreed points, or remaining conspicuously silent on crucial ones.” For instance, Nagaland was brought under Home Ministry from External Affairs Ministry in 1972 without consulting the Naga people; the funding pattern drastically changed in 1989 in total contravention of Point 11 which specifically states that ‘to supplement the revenues of Nagaland, there will be need for the government of India to pay out of the consolidated fund of Nagaland and a grant-in-aid towards meeting the cost of administration’, it stated. The party further expressed faith in the assurance from government of India that “Article 371 (A) shall remain post-solution”. “Mr. Therie himself had been in several ministries in the past and had been actively associated with policies of both ‘equi-distance’ and ‘equi-closeness’ towards the Naga national movement. He should know better than the common person that no government or ministry facilitates multiple taxation or multiple-government administrations. And being a seasoned leader, he should know rather than ask what is an honourable solution and what is acceptable to the people. He should rest assured that the PDA government has been continuously conveying to the government of India and the parties concerned the wishes and aspirations of the people,” read the statement. It also reminded the NPCC chief that democracies do not function at the whims and fancies of some frustrated minds; and democratically-established governments are never dismissed on mere allegations such as those Therie himself had made. “People are now better off than how they were when the Congress ruled at the Centre and the state. The PDA government in Nagaland shall take each and every citizen of the state towards an era of peace and development. The NDPP reiterates our commitment to the people that we stand with every citizen on resolving the Naga political issue early and duly respect the wishes and decisions of the people. No unilateral decision will be taken by the NDPP-led PDA without consulting the people who are the actual stakeholders to the Naga issue,” it asserted.