Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 26
Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister, TR Zeliang while weighing in over the recent controversy related to Article 371 (A) on Friday shared that although the act protects the rights of the indigenous people of Nagaland, few individuals have misused it for personal gains such as for land compensation, which obstructs overall development.
Addressing queries with media persons on the sidelines of the 75th Republic Day celebration held at DDSC Stadium, Dimapur, he added that, “Somewhere our people misuse it, because when we try to make road, individual people come and obstruct.”
He said that although the government was willing to pay damage compensation, some individuals create their own rate/demand citing Article 371 (A). “So those individual people create problem, misusing this Article 371 (A), otherwise in general it protects the rights of the indigenous people of Nagaland,” he said.
‘Peren two-lane road will be connected to Dimapur in 2 years’
He announced that the planned city will be constructed over an area measuring about 500 acres. In regard to the ongoing two-lane road construction in Peren district, he revealed that package one of the project has been executed, except town portion which will be completed this year. For package two and three, construction is currently going on and package four tender has been completed, he said. “So it will be connected to Dimapur within two years.”
‘Detected illegal appointments will be terminated’
On matters pertaining to the recent announcement for termination of illegal appointments in the government departments, Zeliang commented that if one can detect illegal appointment then they will be terminated in any department including even ‘political appointments.’ It should be through proper channels such as the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) and Nagaland Public Service Commission, he said.
‘Nagaland does not require border fencing’
In addition to these points, the Deputy CM opined that the Central government’s plan of fencing the Indo-Myanmar border could be due to some areas in Manipur where illegal immigration takes place. “There might be some areas where border fencing is required such as in Manipur where illegal immigration takes place.”
However, he said that in states such as Nagaland and Mizoram, where families and kins live on either side of the border, it will create several problems. Four Northeastern states, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share a 1,643 km long border with Myanmar. “So in Naga occupied areas, we don’t require fencing,” he viewed.
