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A group of mothers seen holding placards in support of the NPF Youth Wing rally in Kohima on Friday.14.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 14 (EMN): Hundreds of people under the aegis of the central youth wing of Naga People’s Front (NPF) carried out a silent march from NPF central office till Raj Bhavan Kohima and submitted a representation to the Governor regarding the prevailing leadership crisis in the government.
Addressing the rallyists near Raj Bhavan, NPF central youth wing president N Vihoshe Swu categorically blamed the elected leaders for putting the state through the present political disorder. He stated that the party people were ashamed of what is happening and clarified that ‘our leaders’ do not make the party. It is their differences in thinking and their greed for power that has led to the present crisis, the NPF youth wing leader asserted, adding this is the reason why the people and the party are going through crisis for the fourth time in one tenure.
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Members of the NPF central wing staging a rally in the backdrop of the current leadership crises in the party, in Kohima on Friday July 14.[/caption]
Swu also stated that the leaders were elected by their respective constituencies to lead the Naga people but he alleged, with money belonging to Nagas, they went to Kaziranga only to stay confined akin to being jailed. He was also rather vocal that issues concerning the Nagas should be settled in Nagaland amongst themselves and not seek for solution in Assam.
He also stated that the NPF central youth wing was very concerned that the current crisis could affect the ongoing Naga peace process. He pointed out that the Central government was happy over the state government’s initiative towards the peace process but when the Naga people are told that solution is near, their own state government is having internal problem. We should not disturb the peace process, he maintained.
“As you are aware, the Naga People’s Front is currently going through a political disturbance with dissident MLAs led by former Chief Minister staking claim to form the Government,” the youth wing stated in its representation, and sought the attention of the Governor citing the Supreme Court ruling that a Governor cannot have the freedom to determine when and in which situation can he take a decision at his own discretion without the aid and advice of the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers.
“The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, which unanimously quashed Arunachal Pradesh Governor J.P. Rajkhowa’s order to advance the Assembly session without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, described the happenings in Arunachal Pradesh leading to State emergency in 2015-16 as a ‘thrashing given to the Constitution and a spanking to governance’,” the youth wing reminded the Governor. It added that the Apex Court had also ruled that the Governor can summon or dissolve the Assembly for the purpose of floor test or no-confidence motion only when he is convinced the Council of Ministers has lost the confidence of the House.
The NPF youth wing stated that what needs to be considered in the current case is whether the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) coalition has lost confidence of the House. It pointed out that there has not been any withdrawal of support from the coalition, which means, the present Council of Ministers still enjoys the confidence of the House.
On TR Zeliang staking claim to form the government stating that he has the support of the majority of the legislators, the NPF youth wing asserted that this group of legislators is primarily comprised of NPF legislators, making it evident that the issue is between NPF legislators with the Chief Minister and NPF legislators with Zeliang. Therefore, the issue is purely an internal matter of the NPF party, it added.
In view of the ‘above facts’ where the present Council of Ministers continues to enjoy the confidence of the House and the tussle for leadership is purely an internal matter of the NPF, the youth wing stated that it was highly irregular that the office of the Governor should interfere in the internal matters of a political party. Towards this, it urged upon the Governor to “act only on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers”.
The NPF youth wing also reminded that there has been “a genuine move” to facilitate amicable reconciliation within the NPF party with the party deciding to revoke the suspension of party legislators and the Lok Sabha MP. It expressed that when there was such attempts to resolve the differences within the party, it will not be proper on the part of the Governor to “create any stumbling block or to put a wedge between the groups in the party which could result in irreparable damage to the reconciliation moves”.
NPF central youth wing working president Bendangtoshi Longchar also briefly spoke at the rally while youth wing press secretary Neizokhotuo Belho read out the representation submitted to the Governor. It was learnt that 13 divisions presidents and colleagues, members of central women wing, youth wing divisions from Mokokchung, Wokha, Pughoboto, Dimapur, Kiphire, Mon and Kohima participated in the rally.