Dimapur, April 9 (EMN): The opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) party on Monday claimed credit for a financial package that was received from the Centre which according to the party could not be released in February because of the election Code of Conduct in Nagaland.
Conversely, a press release from the NPF on Monday accused the People’s Democratic Government (PDA) of indulging in ‘plagiarism.’
“NPF-led DAN government under the chief ministership of TR Zeliang managed to secure Rs. 185.09 crores from Niti Aayog and Ministry of Finance, GOI; the sanction of which was made on 8 November 2017 through the initiative of former chief secretary and the state RD department. The special sanction for 2017-18, first of its kind provided to the state of Nagaland, was released for areas not included in Part 9 and Part 9(a) of the Constitution.
“The government was to clear 3 years backlog of Rural Development grant-in-aid and matching cash grant apart from schemes of communitized (sic) departments like School Education, Power, PHED and H&FW. The fund was to be released in February 2018 but since the election model code of conduct came into effect, the matter had to be kept in abeyance till the state assembly elections were over,” the press release read.
It took umbrage to what it claimed was Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio announcing his government will be distributing VDB allocation on April 24. “In the spirit of fair play and decency, the PDA government should give credit to the earlier government as and when it is due, and not hog the limelight on false pretences,” it stated.
