NPF to boycott one-day NLA session

DIMAPUR, AUG 12 (NPN): Miffed at its suggestion for holding the upcoming session of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) for three days being rejected by speaker Sharingain Longkumer, NPF Legislative Party (NPFLP) has announced boycotting of the one-day Assembly session scheduled on Thursday.

Informing this in a letter to the speaker, NPFLP spokesperson Imkong L Imchen recalled that in his letter to governor RN Ravi on August 6, Longkumer had mentioned that the daylong session had been convened following a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held at the Assembly secretariat in Kohima on July 20.

However, Imchen pointed out to the speaker that he had failed to mention in his letter that two NPF MLAs – Dr Chotisuh Sazo and Amenba Yaden – had requested him to hold a three-day session to allocate one day each to discuss the Naga political issue, COVID-19 and SARFAESI Act, 2002. As the request was turned down, the two NPF MLAs issued a communiqué the same evening terming the decision arrived at the BAC meeting as “discriminatory, unfair and unacceptable.”

Imchen explained that the two legislators had brought the matter to public domain to show how the current government had once again made “a mockery” of democratic practices in the State.

“Hence, under such circumstances, portraying the two NPF MLAs as being a party to the decision to hold a one-day session as per your letter to the governor is one-sided and lacks precision,” he added.

Thereafter, leader of opposition TR Zeliang had on July 25 proposed to the speaker extension of the session “by a few more days wherein the second day of the session can commence in the month of August as deemed convenient post recess.” However, when this suggestion too was not accepted, Zeliang wrote to the governor seeking extension of the business session to three days on August 1.

The leader of opposition gave three options – i) convene the session from August 11 to 13 for a period of three days or, ii) defer commencement date of the session by a day after August 15 or advance it in order to accommodate at least three days or iii) commence the session on August 13 as scheduled and adjourn the House without sine die and resume for another two days after August 15 (post recess).

And in response to Zeliang’s letter, Ravi wrote to chief minister Neiphiu Rio on August 3, copies of which were shared with the speaker and the leader of opposition.

Despite clear indication by governor that the NLA session should “be of adequate duration to enable it to deliberate over the pressing issues of Nagaland”, Imchen regretted that the speaker failed to consider the same. Instead, Longkumer replied to the governor, copies of which were given to Zeliang and additional CS to the chief minister, reaffirming the decision of holding a one-day Session.

The NPFLP spokesperson said as per Rule-58 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in NLA, notice of an Adjournment Motion should be given at least one hour before the commencement of the sitting, whereas he had served notice in this regard two weeks prior to the scheduled date of Assembly session. He added that it was most unfortunate that this went unattended.

Further, Imchen claimed that opposition MLAs had filed 29 questions to be answered during the session but only 12 questions were accepted by the Assembly secretariat, while the time allotted to the Opposition Bench for discussion on matters related to COVID-19 was a mere 35 minutes, which he said was insufficient.

Reminding the speaker of the dignity of NLA, the NPFLP spokesperson alleged that its democratic principles had been repeatedly abused on the pretext of implementing COVID-19 measures.

Thus, in order to protect democratic practices and maintain the sanctity of the Assembly, Imchen said the NPF would boycott the one-day session, which had been convened for “mere fulfilment of constitutional obligation”.
Attending session for obituary references, passing bills makes no sense: TR Zeliang

Correspondent Adds: Leader of Opposition, T.R. Zeliang said that attending the session for obituary reference and passing of government Bills did not make any sense when the State was confronted with numerous issues.

Talking to Nagaland Post, Zeliang claimed that the opposition had proposed to discuss Naga political issue, which was rejected.

Expressing concern over the decline of the State’s economy, he said the only way to rescue people was through bank loans, due to which he said the opposition members wanted to discuss SARFAESI Act. But it was turned down.

Zeliang alleged that even the time given to opposition legislators for discussing COVID 19 was only 35 minutes, which he said would not be sufficient to cover the topic.

Further, he said the NPF MLAs had submitted a list of 29 questions, of which only 12 questions were admitted for the session.

Therefore, without admitting any of the important issues, Zeliang said there was no point in attending the session and hence the opposition party have decided to boycott the session.

He alleged that the intention of the current government was just to fulfil the constitutional requirement and not to discuss issues of public importance in the Assembly, hence he said even the adjournment motion move made by Imkong L Imchen was rejected.

On the speaker’s clarification to discuss SARFAESI Act some other time, Zeliang recalled that the topic was included in the list during the last session, but was postponed by the speaker at the last minute stating that this would be discussed in the next session.

“And even this time it was not included, which only shows that the government was not willing to discuss issues of public importance,” he added.

On his letter to the governor seeking intervention to conduct session for three days, Zeliang said though NLA’s secretary in his letter had said the “governor indicated the session on August 13”, yet it was clear from the governor’s letter to the chief minister that it was the latter who had proposed the session and not the other way round.

He said the governor asked the chief minster to comply with the request of the opposition by giving sufficient time for deliberation on issues of public importance. However he regretted that the speaker had even turned down even governor’s request.

Zeliang pointed out that August 13 was proposed because by the next day all ministers and advisers would go to their respective headquarters for flag hoisting on August 15, which only showed that the government was determined to conduct the session for one day only.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/npf-to-boycott-one-day-nla-session/220469.html