DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 2 (MExN): Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland on Saturday urged the Nagaland State Government to implement four key demands of the 7-point public resolution passed on August 25 public rally with immediate effect or be “prepared for a full-blown statewide agitation.”
In a representation addressed to the Nagaland Chief Secretary, ACAUT had demanded the Nagaland Government to implement four points, particularly, the demand to institute Nagaland Lokayukta, and termination of all backdoor appointees made in “total violation” of June 6, 2016 government notification and High Court order dated August 8, 2016 before the end of September.
On the issue of Nagaland Lokayukta, ACAUT reminded that it has been consistently raising this issue since 2014. Even after tabling the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill 2015, first in the monsoon session 2015, the State Government was yet to pass the bill, a full two years after it was tabled. This, it termed, was a serious breach of the people’s yearning for clean and good governance.
In case the Nagaland Government decides to convene a special session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) and pass the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill, as per the demands of the August 25 rally, ACAUT said it would not accept any watered down draft apart from the points submitted by it to both the Standing Committee on Lokayukta on August 17, 2016 and the Chief Minister TR Zeliang in 2014 and 2015.
On the backdoor appointment issue, ACAUT has pointed out that on June 6, 2016, the government had notified banning backdoor appointments across all the grades which was subsequently upheld by the High court, Kohima Bench on August 8, 2016.
Despite the government notification, ACAUT alleged that hundreds of backdoor appointments have been made by the Government of Nagaland, thereby violating its own notification as well as risking contempt of court.
ACAUT also demanded immediate action from the government for removal of the unconstitutional post of Advisor and Parliamentary Secretaries in the state in respect to the Supreme Court judgment of July 26, 2017 and to initiate CBI inquiry into MKR Pillai’s case in matters of disproportionate income, involvement in siphoning of funds under Police Modernization Schemes etc.
It also urged the department of roads and bridges to start maintenance and construction of roads and bridges in Nagaland with funds already drawn by the department till date.
“It’s the Government of Nagaland which will have to take the decision to either settle the matter without causing inconveniences to the people or face full-out agitation by the people. At the end, the people are only demanding their constitutional right to live in dignity,” ACAUT stated.
Other points passed at the public rally include the resolution to urge the Government of India to expedite the political process for an early and lasting solution to the protracted Naga political problem by inviting all the Naga Political Groups without further delay.
The rally also resolved to support the clean election movement spearheaded by Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) on the slogan “One man One vote” as to allow one to choose leaders of one’s own choice.
