Says agitation appeared to be ‘the people against the government’
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Chief Minister Dr. Shurhozelie addressing AHoDs and HoDs at the state Secretariat on Thursday.[/caption]
Kohima, Feb. 23: Chief Minister, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu on Thursday expressed sadness over the losses incurred during the recent unrest in the State arising from the conduct of municipal elections, including the loss of the lives of two Naga youth.
Addressing a press conference in his office chamber in the State Civil Secretariat, Shurhozelie said there had been a lot of misunderstandings over the issue resulting in mob agitation that ultimately appeared to be a tussle of ‘the people against the government.’ He voiced concern that if such trend continues in the society, “we would destroy ourselves.”
He said the government had everything at its disposal but it avoided confrontation, and the restrain of the government, he felt, had saved the situation from escalating to an even larger scale of losses. Towards this, he said the first priority of his government is to bring about normalcy in the State.
“Without peaceful conditions, we cannot march forward or develop the State,” the new chief minister asserted. He spoke of his desire to create platforms of debate so as to take into consideration the voice of the people and public wisdom on contentious issues.
Shurhozelie also lamented that the recent ULB imbroglio projected Nagaland in a rather bad light to the outside world. While saying that the government under him would try its best to repair the damage, he appealed to journalists based in the State to project the ‘good image’ of Nagaland.
On whether the government would take action on government employees who had participated in the recent movement directly or indirectly, he said there were many government servants who were involved but only “time will tell” if action would be taken against them or not.
When asked about the fresh allegation by ACAUT that the state government is stashing Rs 5229.56 crore in the State coffers, Dr. Shurhozelie said he would make an enquiry and look into it.
On the allocation of portfolio for the newly sworn in cabinet ministers, parliamentary secretaries and advisors, he said status quo would be maintained for the old ones while few adjustments were likely to be made for the new entrants. Although, he refused to divulge more on the topic, he said the final list of allocation of portfolio will be out within a day or two.
Likewise, when queried if the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 would be moved for another amendment, Shurhozelie said it was too early to comment but the government would certainly listen to the public voice regarding the matter.
On Manipur State elections where the Naga People’s Front (NPF) had issued party tickets to 14 candidates, the chief minister said the party has already kicked-off election campaigns in the hill areas. He added that party leaders would be deputed in teams for campaigning adding “if time permits” he might go as well.
Shurhozelie also informed that the first cabinet meeting was held earlier in the morning and deliberated on 12 agendas. However, he did not elaborate further. Reliable sources said the implementation of the 7th ROP was one of the matters which the cabinet discussed.
Chief Minister, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu and his new council of ministers held a meeting with AHoDs and HoDs at the Secretariat conference hall today, wherein he underscored that successful implementation of government policies largely depends on the effectiveness of the executive leg in a democracy. He asked the bureaucrats to advise the present legislature so that they could, during the brief period of time in power, deliver something of worth to the people of Nagaland.
The new chief minister did not minced much words to direct government officials and heads of departments to set their office procedures and working hours in place and not to be too casual in this regard. He remarked that in the past there have been reports of government servants never being seen in their establishments and such employees, he pointed, becomes liabilities of the State.
Minister Y Patton also briefly addressed the gathering and maintained that the past attitude of many government officers using delay tactics in discharging official works in the name of election year should be done away with.
He also said that during the recent crisis in the State, many government servants and bureaucrats were observed to have had played directly or indirectly as “inciters of the situations against the government.” He reminded that such action was unbecoming of any government servant and should be discouraged and not repeated.
Supplementing to this, Yitachu pointed out that elected members have political affiliations but government employees should not have any political inclinations when it comes to work. He also voiced concern over “random appointments” at lower levels without the government’s approval.
Commenting on the current trend, Yitachu remarked that all the funds would be spent on salaries adding the State will not have “a single paise” for developmental activities. Asserting that officers might think that they were doing favours to their family, tribesmen or helping people from their parties, he however, said such acts were destroying the State’s economy.
“We need to arrest the situation.... Together we have to streamline the confronting issues before us,” he added.
Finance Commissioner, Temjen Toy said there could be many shortcomings on the part of the departments but he called upon all the bureaucrats to rededicate themselves and efficiently carry out the new policies that the new political leadership would be framing for the welfare of the people. Admitting that the relationship between the political leadership and the bureaucracy had seen ups and downs, he said suspicions should be done away with. “If trust is built up, together we can achieve a lot,” he said.
In his closing remarks, Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar assured the cooperation of government officers in delivering quality services for the welfare of the people.
