Morung Express News
Kohima | September 19
After a hiatus following the failed coup to dislodge the Neiphiu Rio-led DAN government some months back, three out of the four NPF dissident MLAs who resigned from the Legislature yesterday and an independent member, who has withdrawn his support to the DAN government, are back with renewed vigor in fostering their charges against the DAN government over deteriorating law and order situation in the State and rampant corruptions, nepotism and prejudice by the ministers.
The three suspended NPF legislators, Z Obed, K Therie and Vatsü Meru, and Independent MLA Khutovi, met the State Governor today and submitted their five point demands, which included invocation of Article (A), Clause (b) or Article 356 of the Indian constitution, whichever is applicable to contain the law and order problem; to enforce ceasefire ground rules in totality; sustain ceasefire without disturbing or burdening the harmony of Naga society by arranging ceasefire funding mutually; to resolve the Naga issue with bold initiative and within a stipulated period of time and to recommend CBI probe into various corruptions charges.
Therie along with Vatsu and Khutovi, who addressed the media at Hotel Japfü after submitting the memorandum, held Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio responsible for the failure to carry out DAN’s common minimum programme by shifting its promise from securing negotiated settlement, to becoming a mere facilitator. Expounding the content of their memorandum Therie accused Rio of misusing DAN’s equi-closeness policy by resorting to a confrontationist approach and patronizing a particular underground faction.
He also said that law and order problem is going from bad to worse and therefore, people are taking law into their own hands to protect themselves from lawlessness. The present government is eclipsed by parallel “governments” run by the factions whose writs run stronger than the state government.
Illegal taxation on every item available in the market is carried on by these “governments” right under the nose of state administration, the memorandum said, further alleging that the state government is conniving with UGs in collection.
“Under the reign of DAN government human life has lost its value and there is no security for the lives and properties of the people”, the memorandum said.
The four leaders also submitted a long list of corruption and nepotism charges being practiced by the Ministers. These included sell out of Likhimro Hydro Power Project to private party; allotment of Canning Factory at Dimapur to Industries Minister’s son without following norms; manipulation of medical seat by Education Minister; bribing of 14 MLAs by Chief Minister by giving them Rs 30 lakhs each to support his ministry; siphoning of Rs 25 crore from transport subsidy by CM and Industries Minister; flouting of rules and norms in awarding construction works; allotment of supply of text books to Urban Minister’s son without issuing tender; selection of near and dear one of those in power as beneficiaries in various schemes like CM corpus fund; misuse of supply materials like AAY and BPL rice, wheat and sugar, SK oil, and rural development fund.
While the State government condemned heavily and provided relief when Wungram colony was burned down, it remained silent on burning down of Jalukie Zandi and refused to provide even relief to affected family which is an absolute prejudice, the memorandum also charged.
It also questioned the motive behind the state reservation policy, wherein the government has agreed to secure 25% to people of eastern Nagaland without taking into consideration the other backward tribes and termed it as ploy to gain vote banks. The trio did not spare the government notification on affiliation issue either, claiming that arbitrary amendment is more for political gain than academic. The government’s failed economic policy, and mishandling of boundaries issue also found its way into the memorandum. The four also appealed the people to support their demands.
.jpg)
