Oil slick in state politics

Surprisingly, the state BJP, till Sunday, has not issued any statement over the sacking of its legislator and its total silence on the matter has only encouraged speculations. The BJP has been a long time ally of NPF since 2003 in the DAN and despite hiccups along the way, both have managed to sustain the alliance.

Efforts to have comments from the state BJP president Visasolie Lhoungu on the issue were received with a curt reply to contact the state BJP spokesperson. However the spokesperson James Vizo refused to answer persistent calls or respond to text messages.

As reported earlier, some NPF sources had cited the probably reasons as being “anti-DAN” activities; meaning that Mmhonlumo was acting against the ruling DAN by being close with former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio. Another BJP leader however expressed shock at the development. It was also learnt that the central BJP has asked for details about the entire episode.

From various indications, it is evident that the BJP legislator from 40 Bhandari has been made the scapegoat for his inability to have the Lotha Hoho to withdraw its PIL against the NP & NG Regulations 2012. 

DAN sources claimed that Mmhonlumo’s appointment as parliamentary secretary with a ‘lucrative portfolio’ was with the understanding that he would engage with the Lotha Hoho to withdraw its PIL filed in the Gauhati High Court. 

According to informed sources, state chief minister T.R.Zeliang had reportedly told a delegation of BJP legislators and party office bearers who had gone to meet him in Kohima, that Mmhonlumo was sacked because he failed to make Lotha Hoho to withdraw the PIL.

It may be recalled that Lotha Hoho had filed a PIL in the Gauhati High Court against the MoU signed by the state government with Metropolitan Oil and Gas Private Limited with regard to certain clauses contained in the NP&NG Regulations 2012.  The Gauhati High Court had on October 8, 2015 stayed the permit issued by the state government to Metropolitan Oil and Gas Private Limited(MOGPL) in 2014 till the case was disposed off.

This was a huge setback for the MOGPL, a firm that was incorporated only on 14 September 2012, just a few months before submitting its EoI for bidding for oil zones in Nagaland.

What is also of interest is that MOGPL had revealed that it has already incurred expenditure of around Rs.10 crore for the project. It may be recalled the MOGPL was awarded Changpang and Tssori oil fields under Wokha zone besides Peren district.

The oil and minerals belong to the Naga people and which has been clearly mentioned under Article 371A of the constitution of India. A legislator who did not wish to be named, said that the issue is not about whether or not to operationalise oil activities but whether the matter can be rushed in haste for short term gains and invite long term losses. He also said if expenditure was incurred by MOGPL then people have a right to know the details.

It may also be recalled that Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), while hitting out to a statement from independent legislator Thomas Ngullie, had countered that if he felt so strongly about Article 371A, why can’t he convince the Lotha community to withdraw its PIL on oil operations. 

Basing on this argument, the chief minister had attacked Thomas and sacked Mmhonlumo allegedly over oil issue but the same yardstick has not been used on two other legislators from the same community.

Recent political developments in the state appear to indicate that one issue after another are being raised and which have caused deep distress over the handling of such situations. The issues include – cabinet decision to order for civic body polls with 33% women reservation, by bypassing the assembly resolution on September 22,2012 in which the chief minister had been blamed for taking the cue from some members of the NMA; recognition of Rongmei as an indigenous tribe of Nagaland and sacking of BJP legislator from the ministry.