Kohima, March 23 (EMN): The 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly will not experience similar anecdotes of what was practised during the 12th assembly. While the 12th NLA under TR Zeliang’s leadership was popularly known for having an opposition-less government, the 13th NLA, for sure, will have more rounds of debates and discussion as there is a strong opposition bench this time.
Even at the first session of the 13th house, the signal was clear from the opposition bench of 26 members who won’t compromise or turn a blind eye on policies which goes against the interest of the public.
While the ruling bench has endorsed the Governor’s address as one of the best so far, the opposition has criticised it as one of the “most dissatisfying and disturbing” address the way it was written and presented.
Participating in the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, senior legislator of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), Küzholüzo Nienu termed the Governor’s address as “totally misleading and disturbing.” He held the bureaucrats responsible in writing the address particularly referring to the sentence “My government has come “back” to power,” while stating that it was DAN who were in power in the last tenure and not the PDA. He alleged that the highest office of the government has been misused.
While acknowledging that the last tenure has been disturbing, Neinu said “we have belittled ourselves. We failed to perform” and at the same time, he also maintained that it is premature to criticise the present day government as he opined that the government is moving towards the wrong direction.
Nienu also criticised the swearing-in ceremony held at local ground as “unconstitutional” and accused Rio of confining the ministers at Hotel Vivor and the delayed of allocation of portfolios of the MLAs.
On the government’s promise to bring change, Nienu maintained that the changes are totally disturbing and not for better but for the worse. He hinted that one day it will have a negative impact on the Nagas and accused the government of “not walking the talk and only political gimmicks.”
He also accused the government as a government of “revenge and vengeance,” while referring to the transfers and postings of bureaucrats and technocrats, which was done within two hours after the swearing-in ceremony. Nienu claimed that the government transferred those officers whom they thought sided with NPF.
Questioning the leader of the house, Nienu asked whether his government is NDPP led government or a BJP led government. “To me, this is purely BJP led government because more of the cabinet ministers are from the BJP. If not a BJP led government, this is a BJP de-facto government” added Nienu.
Stressing on the need for reformation and transformation of the system, Nienu has cited change in the electoral roll and process, file movement and processing, issuing of work order, appointments and payments of bills. He said total reformation and transformation in the system is the need of the hour.
On the cabinet decision to reveal the assets of the politicians, Nienu, while endorsing the idea, however suggested to do the same for the bureaucrats and technocrats. He stated that some bureaucrats are much richer than the politicians.
On the Naga political issue, he questioned if the 34 MLAs in the ruling bench can vacate their seats if at all solution has to arrived. Nienu felt that the 34 members, who are enjoying the power at the moment, may become the hurdles to the ongoing talks.
MLA Yitachu, referring to the words ‘transparency and good governance’ mentioned by the governor in his address, said “if we really want to have good governance then the law should be strong. As long as we think that “mobocracy” is right, it is useless to talk about good governance. We are only making a mockery of ourselves by talking good governance. As long as we don’t go by the rule of law, to bring about good governance, progress and development, I think it will always remain a distant dream.”
On the Naga political issue, Yitachu maintained that its main agenda is to bring about a permanent solution to the Naga political issue, adding he will be happy to extend all possible help to bring about a permanent solution. He asserted that a strong and stable government is necessary to bring about political solution to the Naga people. He felt that as long as the government remains weak and goes into hiding, it cannot bring about any tangible or concrete proposal to bring about the Naga political solution. He looked forward for a strong and stable government to bring about a permanent solution to the Naga political issue.
Endorsing Neiba Kronu, who has called for working together and unitedly set an example to the world, Yitachu, while citing the atrocities meted out to the Christians in India said, “we should send a good message from this very house to the outside world and let us pass a resolution that this august house have debated, taken a serious note on the atrocities meted out to the Christians community in India and press the central government to be more vigilant and protect the secular character of the India in spirit and in letter.”
Others who participated in the debate included Dr. Longrineken, L Imkong Imchen, Neiba Kronu, CL John and EE Pangteang.
