Dimapur, January 14 (MExN): Responding to the Nagaland GBs’ call for revoking President’s Rule, a discomfited Congress today advised the lot not to “interpret the law according to his own wish” to “fool the Naga people.”
Referring to the press statement issued by the founder and advisor to VCF, “Jonathan” of the Congress media cell queried “whether he has called a meeting of all village chiefs of Nagaland and taken this decision to publish such press statement or whether he has been authorized to issue such statement.”
With the explanation that the federation is a “non-political body,” the Congress condescended the organization that that it should not involve in politics and that when one speaks about mandated Government, “he should understand the Constitution and the law” and “without knowing the details he should not air his opinion in public.”
The Congress reiterated its argument for the imposition of the PR: “When 31 MLAs voted in favor of the No-Confidence Motion against 23 of the ruling party, (Neiphiu) Rio should have gracefully stepped down instead of interpreting the law according to his own will and holding on to his chair. When 31 Members of the Nagaland Progressive Alliance (NPA) had staked majority claim, His Excellency the Governor of Nagaland had refused to allow the NPA to form the Government.
The Hon’ble Leader of the NPA, Shri I. Imkong had earlier stated that 3 NPF Members are willing to join the NPA provided Congress party tickets are given to them to contest the forthcoming general elections.”
The Congress maintained that “Rio has compelled the Government of India to protect the Constitution and the law of the land and declare President’s Rule.” It stated that when a Speaker acts unconstitutionally, it is the moral duty of the Governor and the President of India to protect the Constitution. “So, Mr. Rio should blame himself rather than putting the blame on others. What is the Constitution and the Law and how it should be interpreted is now left to the Hon’ble High Court, where the NPF has already filed a Petition, challenging the declaration of President’s Rule in Nagaland.”
The Congress added” “Therefore, it is advised that people like Mr. T.I, Angami should wait and see the judgment of the Hon’ble High Court and do not try to interpret the Law according to his own wish and try to fool the Naga people. If he wants to issue any statement on behalf of the Village Chiefs Federation of Nagaland, he should call a meeting of all Village Chiefs and take their opinion. That is the democratic way of functioning.”
