Legislators speak out about corruption at NE conference

Guwahati, May 6 (MExN): Representatives of Nagaland legislators at the 14th annual conference of North East Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA) at LGB Bhawan, Assam Legislative Assembly Premises on Monday, spoke aloud on the issue of corruption.    

Participating in the discourse, “Combating corruption for effective functioning of Parliamentary Democracy in North-East Region and progress of Industrialization in North-East Region – New Vistas for Socio-Economic Development,” Nagaland minister for Roads and Bridges, Parliamentary Affairs, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu rued the menace of corruption is eroding the very system of democracy. Affirming the need to curb corruption, Azo highlighted the need to legislate realistic implementing laws. Azo also shared the need to cleanse corruption, “starting from the very roots of the citadel of democracy,” adding “Corruption is very much prevalent even in mainland India and to cleanse such practices, it has to start from the top.” He also called for strengthening of brotherhood among the different states of the region to bolster progress and growth in the region.

NLA Speaker Chotisuh, speaking on the discourse, “corruption as not merely an Indian phenomenon but a global issue,” stated Northeast states were no exception in terms of corruption. He expressed regret that the region continues to remain "most backward" despite availability of resources in the region. “It is also very regrettable that no national institute or industrial activitiy worth its name has been taken in the past 50 years of statehood,” he rued and expressed “urgent” need for all delegates to work collectively to urge “central leadership to understand the realities in NE so that new vistas can be opened.” 

Gracing the inaugural session, Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi stated that NE has series of issues on development frontier. He attributed the region being “backward” to lack of adequate road connectivity, drinking water, health and education. Gogoi, however, articulated the need to rise up to the challenge and change with time and think in present context to cope up with the rest of the world. Meanwhile, speaking about the existing border issues, Gogoi vouched for ironing out differences through dialogue so that “peace and unity of the region is not disturbed”.

The legislators from all the states of the Northeast region meanwhile advocated the need to voice out various issues concerning the region in unison. The two-day annual conference was also attended by MLAs Namri Nchang and Mhonlumo Kikon, and Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Secretary, AE Lotha.