Hundreds of NPF Central youth wing members led by NPF president, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu staged a sit-in dharna outside the Civil secretariat complex on Monday in protest against the NLA Speaker’s inaction to settle cases regarding the disqualification issue, recognition of NPF legislature party leader and recognition of the NPF chief whip.
Addressing the party workers, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu expressed deep anguish with the Kohima district administration for rejecting the formal request of the party’s youth wing to hold the peaceful dharna.
Dr. Liezietsu challenged the administration to arrest him first and not the party workers if the peaceful Dharna was found wrong adding, “Nagas cannot be threatened and treated like this.”
Outside the secretariat complex, the NPF party workers erected a banner which read “Speaker must follow the Assembly Rules, Assembly secretariat office should not be misused Honorable speaker settle the ending issues lying in your office immediately, assembly secretariat is not your private firm” etc.
Dr. Liezietsu said the party would continue with the peaceful dharna and democratic agitation seeking early and timely resolution to what he considered as gross violations of the Constitution by the Speaker.
He further clarified that the party had no intention to create any unwarranted situation. “However, if anyone provokes, then the party will also give a befitting reply,” he said. Dr. Liezietsu said he wondered whether the Central government was aware of the entire situation happening in Nagaland including the installation of unconstitutional government and questioned “if the Centre would blindly believe in anything that was illegal.” However, if the Centre was aware and was sitting over the issue, he said “this would be a wakeup call for the Nagas to think and plan seriously for the future of the State.”
He said the protest was “a people’s movement to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution of India” and that the people would “join the movement to protect the rights of the people of Nagaland.”
DAN chairman and NPF legislature party leader Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu asked the NLA Speaker to wake up and start performing his duties, stating the protest was a result of speaker’s inaction on the various issues.
Hitting out at the speaker, Azo said despite the party awarding him the highest chair (Speaker), he chose to ignore the party workers to even enter his office when they tried to submit the memorandum.
He also questioned the response of the Speaker on the memorandum served by NPF youth wing which came from Chief Minister’s office (CMO) and reminded that CMO and NLA were different entities.
Azo said whatever complaint was raised to the NLA speaker, it went to the CMO. “This showed the incapability of the Speaker and that the Speaker does not know how to function his office,” he said. He questioned whether it was a dictatorial style of functioning or whether CM had taken over the NLA office as well.
Azo cautioned that if this continues, the protest would be intensified and would even start demanding for removal of the Speaker since the party workers were running out of patience.
NPF legislature spokesperson, Yitachu said rule of law should control the state, the government and the systems and it was the duty and responsibility of every authority in the government to follow the rule of law.
He said the unconstitutional government was giving justifications only in the newspapers and was running away from the court by seeking adjournments and postponements only.
As per the assembly rules, he said all the issues must have been settled within a month. However, he said even after lapse of three months the speaker failed to give any order including the order on chief whip replacing late Kiyianelie Peseyie.
Yitachu said if such wrong doings were not put to stop, then future generation would be greatly affected. He expressed confidence that the dharna would bring out “the truth” to the Nagas.
The dharna was also attended by host of party workers and legislators.
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