CM Zeliang pins hope on Centre’s rescue plans

Says, taking out rally against or for issue is inappropriate

Staff Reporter Dimapur, September 9 Chief Minister T.R Zeliang has said that for the last four and half years, Nagaland had suffered financial difficulty adversely but hoped that with the 14th Finance Commission, the State will be rescued from the fiscal deficit.  Addressing the media persons on his arrival at Dimapur Airport from Delhi today, Chief Minister expressed confidence on his meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission at Delhi. Mentioning on the last meeting with Modi, CM said that the meeting was to remind him of the memorandum submitted on the State’s financial situation on their previous meeting. Terming the last 13th Finance Commission to be ‘unrealistic’ which had damaged the State, he said that for the last four and half years the state had suffered adversely but hoped that with the 14th Finance Commission, the State will be rescued from the atrocious financial deficit. When asked over the Naga issues, CM replied that the matters have been raised to Prime Minister and National Security Agency (NSA) separately which he said was a fruitful discussion. On Nagaland Special Development Zone (NSDZ) issue, Zeliang articulated that setting up of NSDZ is only a vision and resolution and not an ‘act.’ He called upon every right thinking individual and NGO to come forward and put their opinions during the consultation meeting which is scheduled to be held on September 26. ‘Taking out rally against or for the issue is inappropriate when there will be a consultation meeting where the people can put forward their opinions. We are people’s government elected by them so we will certainly consult the public before taking any steps’ CM said. Responding on the salary issue of various departments in the state, Zeliang affirmed that payment of salary depended on the Centre and if it does not release then we will have to wait for another four to five months. Drawing attention on the State’s road condition, he pointed out that the government will on road development and execution of the progressing work instead of executing new buildings without suitable roads.