Opposition takes on PDA; lists concerns

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 24 (EMN): The issue of the lease agreement pertaining Nagaland commercial complex at Kolkata continues to be a topic of debate even after the chief minister’s office and the office of the leader of opposition have had their say on the matter.

The Naga People’s Front on Monday while admitting that the extension deeds of lease (in 1997 and 2007) on said complex were mistakes committed by the Nagaland government in the past, it did not hesitate to pounce on the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) for letting two entire months go by after the Kolkata High Court passed an interim order on 14th May 2018 in favour of the lessee Civil Engineer Enterprise Pvt. Ltd (CEEPL).

NPF spokesperson Achumbemo Kikon, addressing a press conference on Monday at the NPF central office in Kohima, criticised the government for filing counter affidavit on 16th July 2018, after a lapse of two months. “The PDA should have immediately challenged the interim order. Kolkata High Court is not the only high court, we still have the Supreme Court,” he said. However, he expressed dismay that instead of challenging the KHC order, the PDA government “appears to have instructed the Home Commissioner” to accept the previous terms of agreement of a cheap rental rate of INR 7 lacs when the state could be earning more than INR 2 cr monthly and INR 24 cr annually as per the present market rate. He said the best opportunity for Nagaland came in 2017 when the lease of the CEEPL got expired. The then chief minister TR Zeliang had instructed the Home commissioner and Chief Secretary not to renew their (CEEPL) lease unless the rate was negotiated as per the market rate, he said, but during the process, the state assembly election was announced.

“NPF demands that a proper forum in the form of a joint parliamentary committee should be constituted immediately as proposed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio in the assembly to tackle the issue, or else we will be incurring a huge loss,” Kikon said

Expedite the case of cop murder

The NPF demanded that the PDA government should ensure that the case of the murder of police officer Neiphretuo Metsie-o was expedited and ‘befitting punishment’ as per the law of the land was given to the culprits.

“When even police officers are not safe, what about the common citizens? Where are we heading under this (PDA) government? The longer this government continue the more it poses a threat to the citizens,” party spokesperson Achumbemo Kikon stated. In this regard, the NPF party was of the view that the government of the day own responsibility and “step down and pave way for an alternative arrangement”.

“If the lives of the police are not secure, it is unfortunate that the citizens are under severe threat under this government,” Kikon said.

Pork from punjab

On the government’s proposal to import live pigs worth INR 200 crore annually from Punjab by the Department of Underdeveloped Areas (DUDA), Kikon questioned the source of finance such a huge price, as well as the subsequent clarifications between the departments of DUDA and Veterinary & Animal Husbandry. This indicated that there is no coordination in this government, he said.

While acknowledging that Nagas do consume a large amount of meat, he said the NPF was of the view that local entrepreneurs should be encouraged (to rear animals), and supported by the government. “Even from the health point of view, it will be hazardous to import any kind of meat from unknown distance. If we are not learning lessons from such things when are we going to learn a lesson. It involves our health and also the economy of the citizens,” Kikon stated, adding, but if the government was serious to undertake such a mission, the responsibility should have been accorded to the Veterinary & Animal Husbandry department.

Expedite construction of 4-lane highway
Taking a new swing at the pace of the ongoing construction work on the four-lane national highway between Kohima and Dimapur, the NPF spokesperson said the project was approved during the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s time in the early 2000, and at a time when Rio was at the helms of affairs. Kikon pointed that Rio, however, did not pursue the project and it materialised only after much efforts during the government of TR Zeliang.

“Today with this PDA government we are witnessing that instead of expediting the construction of the work, it has been derailed. On the one hand, there is threat to the labourers. Also, there is a group of those sublet contractors complaining that there is no fund and therefore the works are being delayed,” Kikon said. Despite many talks on development, particularly on road development, there has not been much progress to see, he added.

“Instead of only talking, this is one project that has to be properly implemented. The work has to be expedited and at the earliest it has to be completed. If they are serious on road development, this is one project that needs attention. The citizens of Nagaland deserve better roads,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the NPF spokesperson expressed that the NPF mourns the untimely demise of also Imtikumzuk Longkumer, MLA and Advisor for Sericulture and Excise who passed away on Sep. 22. “He (late Imtikumzuk) was a former member of the NPF party. We have fond memories of him,” he said, while conveying condolences to the bereaved family.