Congress Legislature Party’s parliamentary secretary C.Apok Jamir alleged that the ruling NPF-led DAN government’s “hidden agenda” was “nakedly exposed” by the DAN resolution No.1 of November 20 as contained in the statement issued by chief minister Neiphiu Rio vis-à-vis Joint Legislators Forum(JLF) resolution No.3 of July 19 on resigning from the house to pave way for a solution to the Naga issue.
In a lengthy statement, the CLP pointed out that Rio’s justification asserting the election manifesto of DAN in 2003 and 2008 had nothing to do with the JLF resolution.
CLP pointed out that the winter session of parliament already on by November 22, and the Naga issue was not listed by the Business Advisory Committee in the agenda for discussion.
CLP said since resignation of 18 Congress and one independent MLA may not make much impact, yet the resignation of all 60 legislators of JLF could have created an issue of national importance on zero hour.
CLP said chief minister Neiphiu Rio had on November 20 responded to the Congress letter of November 12 seeking to know the stand of the NPF-led DAN over the July 19 JLF resolution.It said the chief minister’s response was clear that DAN legislators would not resign.
CLP said resigning after solution was arrived at would hold not meaning as it could not be called a sacrifice.
CLP said the Congress had acted in good faith since the election process takes 50 days to complete and 60 days before notification for election was issued against the backdrop of the current legislative assembly’s term set to expire by mid-March 2013.
It said the NPF-led DAN resorted to narrow interpretation of the mandate so as to remain in power till election with all state machineries under its (DAN) control.
Thus, it said“by refusing to resign, they (DAN) have betrayed the trust of the general public”. It said DAN’s plea of upholding the people’s voice and carry out constitutional duties was a “farce” as DAN legislators were only trying to “further their own interests”.
CLP said the negative campaign of DAN that resignation of 60 MLAs would invite President’s rule was “unfounded and uncalled for “and that resignation would also precipitate “suppression of democratic rule” was not only “misleading but also figment of imagination, demeaning the democratic ethos of the constitution.”
CLP maintained that Article 356 of the constitution was very clear on invoking PR as the centre would not rush to do so. Instead, CLP said invocation of PR would be DAN government’s own undoing due to “mis-governance”. It said DAN was afraid that PR would bring its members under surveillance for corruption.
CLP admitted that though PR had its negative bearings, yet people of Nagaland would prefer it so as to end the corrupt DAN government and meet the need for political solution and therefore, “people must welcome it”.