Bonnie Konyak
Dimapur | June 11
Speaking in tune with the Congress, MLA Therie today opined that under the present situation of disorder in the Nagaland, the call for President’s Rule in the state could not be considered as wrong. Referring to the clause of Article 356 which referred to Internal Disturbances, he said that under the present suppression and the “Rule of Threat” in Nagaland, if the Centre was unwilling to discipline the wrongdoers, then the Union Government must interpret the meaning of “Internal disturbances”.
In an interview with the Morung Express, Therie said that any party, including Congress would be a better option for the public then the present Rio led DAN government. He however denied that the Congress had any hand in the crisis of the NPF party saying that if they had supported the dissidents, then the Governor would have listened to their call for change of leadership.
He said that though the Congress would be the happiest if the government were to fall, all they could do was wish as this crisis was an internal matter. “Today the NPF is not fighting with the Congress but within itself”, Therie stated adding that a house divided could not stand.
Asked if there was a possibility of an NPF party minus Rio forming an alliance with the Congress in the next general election, Therie said that it was not only the Chief Minister who was a liability but some of the leaders surrounding him were worse as they seemed to be running private companies in a dictatorship manner.
Therie also outlined the need for reconciliation, peace, settlement, freedom and the need for one order from one government. He added that the recent move for change of leadership within the NPF had been a mission to salvage the people of Nagaland from misery and to salvage the Naga Political Negotiation.
For this very reason he said that 22 out of 43 DAN legislators, in a signed statement of declaration had expressed loss of confidence in the leadership of Rio which was manipulated with allegations of signing under duress to regain majority.
Therie further dismissed talks of old and new with regards to the signatures, as meaningless saying that it was the conscious decision of Honourable Members, made in good health and in a sound state of mind. He gave the example of the Plebiscite saying that it was a decision of May 16, 1951 and the people of Nagaland continued to stand by the decision and thus pursuing the negotiation. “Can one say the plebiscite decision is too old and has no value now?” he questioned.
Terming the withdrawing and reversing of decision by some signatory legislators as a temporary set back from communication gap, Therie said that their action was a political crime, liable to be convicted if they stood by what they wrote to the Governor.
“Their action is cheating, treason, deceit and betrayal to the other honourable members as well as to Rio”, the MLA stated and continued that perhaps the paper had been drafted by the Chief Minister’s office and made to sign.
Taking stock of the whole situation, the suspended MLA said that the ball was now in the court of the Governor, who was aware along with the people of Nagaland that Rio had lost the confidence of the majority both in the NPF party and the DAN coalition. On the above grounds, Therie said that the Governor had many options. The Governor could either dismiss Rio, and replace him with Z.Obed or if he thought there was a dispute in the leadership, the Governor could suspend the Assembly until the dispute is clear to him.
Reinforcing that the will of the people must reign, Therie left the matter to the conscious decision of the legislators saying that if the Members wanted the support of the people, they must decide soon.
Morung Express News
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