Dimapur, March 4 (EMN): The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has asserted that by walking out of the recently concluded Budget session thrice, the opposition Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) robbed itself of the opportunity to hear the government’s explanation to queries raised by the opposition bench.
An NDPP statement on Monday said that though opposition parties in a democratic government walk out on certain issues, “it was perhaps inopportune that the opposition NPF MLAs staged two walk outs on the Feb. 23 and the 25th during question hour.” It also denied people their right to know the activities of the government of the day, the party stated.
Against this backdrop, the NDPP stated, it was amusing that the NPF was alleging through the newspapers that the government could not give proper replies to their queries. “The two walk outs during question hour also revealed the double standards of the NPF. The opposition NPF on the Feb. 22 and the 26th allowed a particular minister to give replies to starred and supplementary questions pertaining to another department other than his, having been authorised by the chief minister and Minister in-charge of that department.
“However, on Feb. 23 and the 25th when another minister stood to reply to starred and supplementary questions pertaining to another department, also duly authorised by the chief minister, the opposition began to object by questioning the validity of the authorisation and staged walk outs despite the deputy speaker and speaker in-charge giving detailed explanations under the ‘Rules of procedure of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly’ as well as the advocate general having given his statement to the House,” it stated.
The NDPP also condemned what it stated was the “attitude and behaviour of the opposition MLAs who abused and used derogatory terms against the Speaker’s chair” while walking out.
“The opposition had also ridiculed the slogan ‘change is coming’; yet they seem to forget their own implementation of the slogan ‘peace for development and development for peace’, though the people have not forgotten the implementation of this slogan; with the NPF-led DAN-III bringing ‘peace’ through the deployment of water cannons and riot police which culminated in the unfortunate ULB crisis of 2017,” it reminded.
The NPF’s opposition to the resolution against Citizenship Bill, it stated, “only exposes their intentions for the future of the people of Nagaland since the resolution brought by the government was in accordance with the resolution passed at the consultative meet held at Chumukedima on the Jan. 31, 2019 that was attended by all tribe hohos, CSOs, prominent personalities of the state and political parties, except the NPF and Congress.”
According to the NDPP, posterity will remember this decision of the NPF for all times to come “on how they have let the Naga people down by undermining the hard earned privileges and protections of the Naga people.”
The NPF’s stand that “Article 371 (A) does not protect us”, it stated, was incomprehensible because without Article 371 (A) “there is no Nagaland, there is no government, and there is no Assembly”— which the NPF legislators are part of. “By saying that the aspects of CAB and Article 371 (A) and the BEFR are not connected is nothing but bizarre and shocking and only exposes the fact that the NPF party’s claims of being the oldest regional party and that they will protect all Nagas no longer holds any truth or validity!”
It however appreciated the role of the opposition saying that having an active opposition bench is a pre-requisite for a government to function and deliver to the people. “It is very much in our memories as to how the last four years of the 12th House functioned without any opposition allowing the government to function without being accountable and responsible to the people due to the absence of an opposition bench.
“It is also appreciated of the Leader of Opposition Mr. TR Zeliang to have apologised for his sexist remark in his speech during the session. As a leader of the people, one must take care of what one says keeping in mind issues that are sensitive to the society both inside as well as outside the NLA, be it in jest or otherwise.”
The party congratulated Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for having successfully passed a budget ‘that is people-centric and youth-oriented with a vision towards the all-round development of the state through transparency, accountability and good governance.’ It commended the governor for his ‘excellent’ address.
It also appreciated the BJP, the JD (U) and the Independent party along with their respective legislators that form the PDA for supporting the resolution against the CAB ‘on the ground that Article 371 (A) protects Nagas from the Bill.’
