DIMAPUR, AUGUST 26 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has congratulated the Leader of Opposition, I. Imkong for ‘re-strengthening’ the Nagaland State Legislature Member’s (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964 through the verdict of the Election Commission of India that the office of the Leader of Opposition of Nagaland Legislative Assembly does not hold Office of Profit under the Government of Nagaland or any other Government within the meaning of Article 191(1) (a) of the Constitution and consequently he is not subject to disqualification from being a member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
“Though the Nagaland State Legislature Member’s (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964 did not specify the Office of Opposition Leader to be exempted from the Office of Profit, it is an accepted fact that, in a democratic system of Government, without an opposition party leader the very institution of democracy has no meaning and the system itself will collapse”, stated NPCC Secretary of the Media Cell Zhenito in a press communiqué.
But the NPF-led DAN exhibiting their ignorance of law brought out the issue of ‘Office of Profit’ against the Opposition Leader for lodging a compliant on Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio holding the posts of Chairman of Bamboo Mission and Chairman Nagaland Sports Council which attracts the provision under the law, the NPCC claimed.
Also mentioning that the issue of “Office of Profit” assumed significance recently as the NPF demanded that the State Governor should immediately notify the Election Commission’s opinion forwarded to the Governor as early as August 12, 2006 and expressing surprise over non-notification of “such an important matter of public interest” by the Raj Bhavan which should not have been delayed for even a single day so that justice is done to the concerned parties. The NPCC also took a dig at the reported statement of the NPF that “the Constitutional Head of the State is supposed to be free from all bias and prejudices and deliver justice to all citizens of the State, irrespective of political parties”.
“The provision under Article 192(2) of the Constitution, which stipulates that in an event when such disqualification case is referred to the Governor, he “shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion”, the NPCC stated quoting from the statute book.
The NPCC stated that it was assumed that Raj Bhavan on receipt of the opinion from the Election Commission of India in regards to the case of the Leader of Opposition must have been performing the official procedure to issue the notification. “However, the NPF joined by State BJP and JD (United) came out openly to attack the good office of His Excellency alleging that the delay in issuing the notification is a ploy to favour the Leader of Opposition, Shri I. Imkong”. The NPCC pointed out that such action clearly showed the immaturity of the NPF leaders and ignorance of the law. “They are also trying to confuse the people by dragging the State Governor into controversy on the issue of “Office of Profit”.
NPCC reminded the NPF leaders to abstain from activities which would lower the prestige and image of the office of His Excellency.
Further, the NPCC appreciated the Congress Legislature Party Members for their satisfactory performances during the recently concluded 12th session of the 10th Nagaland Legislative Assembly. “The CLP Members have been successful in pointing the misdeeds and also exposing the acts of favouritism and nepotism of the DAN Government in carrying out developmental activities in the State”, the NPCC stated.
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