Dimapur, Sep. 24 (EMN): The youth wing of the opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) has issued a sharp response to referring to the report presented during the 2nd session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, “showcasing the negligence of PDA (People’s Democratic Alliance) government.”
The youth wing issued a press release on Monday.
Responding to a question why the PDA government did not challenge the Kolkata High Court’s Interim order, the press release read, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio “pointed to the fact” that all advocates in Kolkata High Court were “purchasable by Shyamalendu Ghosal, the managing director of CEEPL and thereby the abstinence.”
The group claimed that the ‘intention’ to ‘conceal the government’s dereliction of duty’ by coming up with “such an unsavoury response” is “not only hilarious but unethical and least expected,” the youth wing asserted. ‘Instead of challenging the said interim order in a higher court of law, direction was issued for accepting the two cheques of Rs. 35 lakhs and Rs. 7 lakhs released by CEEPL in favour of Home Commissioner, Nagaland on 16th May, 2018 and 2nd July, 2018 respectively.’
After acceptance of the two cheques released by CEEPL, the NPF stated, a counter affidavit was filed in Kolkata High Court only on July 16 2018, the group stated. ‘Apparently, this delay and negligence on the part of the State Government is what the chief minister’s office prefers to interpret as “following up the case with utmost sincerity.”’
Further, the NPF youth declared that the statement of the chief Minister’s office, ‘facts about CEEPL case at Kolkata Nagaland House,’ as published in the newspaper ‘is only a repetition of what the leader of opposition TR Zeliang presented during the half an-hour discussion,’ the press release read.
The NPF claimed that the chief minister “avoided giving any definite response despite the fact that accountant general, Nagaland had apprised the government to accept the two cheques ‘with objection.’”
The press release read that the chief minister ‘come up with clearcut answers’ ‘as to what answers were tendered by the AG, Balgopal and why the interim order of the Kolkata High Court of 14th May, 2018 was not challenged by the PDA government.’
The statement added that the government ‘suffers defeat when it comes to clarifying as to why the chief minister expressed his regret to accept a CBI enquiry on the matter as raised by the leader of opposition on the floor of the assembly on 20th Sept. 2018.’
The youth wing suggested that the chief minister’s office issue clarifications ‘only after getting its facts and figures right.’
