Dimapur, July 15: The escalating war of words between the ruling and opposition parties in Nagaland sees no end over the June 16 letter of the Governor to the Chief Minister on law and order scenario in the State.
In another salvo at the opposition parties, the ruling NDPP on Wednesday accused the NPF of tying to create confusion in the minds of the people by repeating that the Governor has lost confidence in the Government.
However, the party claimed that in his letter addressed to the Chief Minister, the Governor had at no time mentioned that “he had lost his confidence on the government”.
“Such callous statements made by the so called oldest regional party are unbecoming and immature,” alleged the NDPP media & communication committee in a press release.
On the NPF justifying their demand for the PDA Government to step down over allegation of mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State, the NDPP said, “The logic of the NPF that the rising numbers of positive cases in the State is attributed to the failure of the State government is not only absurd but is bordering on insanity.”
“Going by the illogical stand of the opposition party, if the rising numbers of positive cases are to be attributed to the failure of the government, then people across the world should be clamouring for their respective governments to step down since it is common knowledge how the number of positive COVID-19 cases are rising globally everyday.”
On NPF president Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu supporting the stand taken by NPF that the Government must step down, the NDPP said it is surprised that one of the octogenarian politicians in Nagaland and a former Chief Minister would defend and support such a stand.
“For a former Chief Minister who has also been a member of the Cabinet on numerous occasions, it is expected of him to be aware that governments cannot be made to step down at the whims and fancies of the opposition! The NPF does not own the Constitution of India and therefore cannot change the laid down procedures that governs our democracy to their convenience,” it said.
On the claim of the NPF that it stands for the Naga political issue, the NDPP said, “However, in the present matter, the NPF has not made its stand clear on the Naga political issue and the ongoing peace process. Naga civil society, tribal organisations and mass based leaders have expressed their opinions and concerns in an outspoken manner yet the NPF has steered clear of the political dynamics of the issue. Does the NPF agree with the terminology of the Naga political groups and is the NPF in support of a political solution that is honourable, acceptable to the people and a negotiated solution that ensures lasting peace by acknowledging the political rights of the Nagas? Merely claiming that it is the oldest party no longer holds good in the eyes of the people.”
‘Article 371A (1) (b)’
On the view given by former Chief Minister of Nagaland and former Governor of Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Odisha, Dr SC Jamir on Article 371A (1) (b), the NDPP asked, “Does the former Chief Minister want to make Nagaland an unequal state of the Indian union or does he want to roll back the clock of history by taking Nagaland back to the 50s and 60s. As a former democratically elected head of state and an active proponent for peace, he for one should stand up for democracy by supporting the stand of the government that the said clause under Article 371A is redundant in today’s context.”
Stating that Nagaland of today is not the Nagaland of the 50s and 60s when law and order in the newly created state was chaotic with insurgency at its peak, the NDPP reminded that the 12th House of the NLA had passed a resolution on December 17, 2013 stating that Article 371A (1) (b) of the Constitution of India was redundant in Nagaland considering the vast improvements in the law and order and insurgency related activities following the ceasefire between the GoI and the Naga national political groups and the peace talks leading towards a final settlement of the Naga issue.
The NDPP hoped that leaders like Dr Jamir will defend our right for democracy and together work towards strengthening our State as an equal member of the great Union of India.
(Page News Service)
