Kohima Bureau
Kohima, March 24 (EMN): Leader of opposition TR Zeliang has criticised the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government as ‘visionless’ with no proper roadmap.
Participating in the debate of motion of thanks to the governor’s address, Zeliang said the PDA has not come up with any concrete new policies, except for adoption of policies of the previous government.
“The PDA government has no common minimum programme. Their policies are follow-ups of what the DAN government has worked for,” Zeliang said adding that the governor’s address was “rather a complimentary note of the previous government.”
He also claimed that the NDPP seems to have lesser authority than BJP though it has more MLAs in the alliance. “Is this a NDPP-led PDA government or a BJP-led PDA government? Going by what it is now, it is better for the NDPP to merge with BJP rather than being under duress,” Zeliang said.
On Naga political issue, Zeliang questioned the sincerity and commitment of the PDA stating that he does not find any positive approach on their part.
“Is the government of the day ready to step down or pave way if at all a solution has to arrive?” Zeliang said while he also questioned the intention of the government to come up with another “Centre for Peace” when there is already one at Chedema.
Zeliang claimed that his government brought the six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) together. On behalf of the opposition bench, Zeliang also assured to render full support to the government in its effort to bring an amicable solution. “In time, we will see if the PDA government can walk the talk,” Zeliang said.
He also said that the swearing-in ceremony on March 8 was rather like a felicitation programme. Zeliang said that the idea to accommodate other activities other than oath taking of the council of ministers was not in accordance with the trend practised by other states across the country.
Ballot papers instead of EVMs
Zeliang has suggested doing away with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He said there has been lots of complaint against the use of EVMs over the years.
Instead, he suggested the use ballot papers in the coming elections. “We hear reports of defective EVMs, and this is highly questionable,” he said mentioning that lots of genuine voters could not cast their votes due to insufficient time.
“Let us do away with EVMs and get back to ballot papers. In using EVMs, I suspect manipulation,” Zeliang said while stating that many voters in Peren district could not cast their votes due to defective EVMs.
He also slammed the Janata Dal (U) and National People’s Party for not sticking to their pre-poll alliance with the Naga People’s Front.
“In clear violation of the age-old tradition, the JD (U) and NPP have defied the pre-poll agreement. This would be considered as one of the changes coming to the state,” Zeliang said adding that “change is not coming, but it has already come.”
