DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 14 (MExN): The NDPP led PDA government has issued a rejoinder over the statements issued by the NPF and the NPCC censuring the absence of Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yepthomi in the Parliament when the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was put to vote.
A press communiqué issued by NDPP media & communication committee clarified that the vote on CAB on January 8 in the Lok Sabha was a voice vote and not a division of vote. Responding to the allegation made by the NPCC president K Therie, the NDPP countered that the Congress party very conveniently decided to walk out of the House without participating in the vote. Had they been serious about the CAB and its effects, they should have voted on the floor of the house regardless of whether they win or lose, it stated.
On the accusation made by the NPCC that the NDPP led PDA government voted for the CAB in the Lok Sabha, the NDPP pointed out that MP of Lok Sabha, Tokheho Yepthomi has himself come out with a public clarification that he had not voted in Parliament on January 8, 2019.
It meanwhile advised the NPCC to first set its house in order and gain access to the floor of the house by getting a representative elected before pointing its fingers at the government.
Coming to the NPF, the NDPP led PDA government said it is amused by its statement daring the government to “introduce a bill for streamlining ILP” on the floor of the house. It in turn advised the NPF to first question its leader TR Zeliang as to why he decided to turn a deaf ear to the pleas of various student organisations and CSOs to implement the ILP and the BERFA to the entire of the state when he was the Chief Minister of Nagaland.
Accusing the NPF and TR Zeliang for “so conveniently trying to pass on the buck to the government of the day when they know very well that they had failed to deliver to the people,” the press communiqué pointed out that the PDA government has already instituted a high-power committee to look into the matter and will very soon come out with a policy to address the issue.
It also claimed that the PDA government has always been consistent on its stand; with the Cabinet clearly declaring on January 28 that Nagaland rejects the CAB and oppose the said Bill.
It therefore stated that since the CAB has lapsed due to it not being tabled in the upper House of Parliament, it is time for every right thinking Naga citizen to work towards strengthening the provisions of Article 371A and protect our future “rather than try to dilute these provisions for the mere sake of gaining political mileage as in the case of the NPF.”
