Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 22
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said a Joint Legislators Forum (JLF) comprising all 60 members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Naga political issue will be renewed so that it would encourage factions to come together.
In his reply on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s Address at the ongoing assembly session here, Rio said the most important issue before the people is the Naga political issue.
He also said that since DAN took over the government, to play a positive role in bringing an early solution to Naga political settlement was in their manifesto and is still committed to the issue. However, he said the issue is between the “underground” and the GoI where the State Government cannot take part directly. He further said that the Naga political issue is everybody’s issue therefore everybody is needed to be onboard.
On financial position of the state, Rio stated that from DAN I till date (11 years), the government have not gone into embargo and have not failed to pay the salary of the government employees.
He said that financial position is good and the government is managing despite resources constraints and the cut down in the plan size.
Stating that ACAUT is doing a commendable job to fight against unabated taxation, Rio also stated that a combined effort is needed to tackle the issue of illegal taxation in the state.
“I am not trying to run away from my responsibility,” he said, while referring to his contesting Lok Sabha polls. “I am going to take greater responsibility.” Rio said that if elected, Naga political issue will be his top priority.
Rio said that 17 resolutions adopted by the newly formed North East Regional Party Forum, where he is the convenor, was to address the problems and issues confronting the region as “we were treated as second class citizens and ill treatments were meted on us even to the extent of killing.”
Also referring to Look East Policy, Rio maintained that all the people have to involve in this exercise without which this policy will never come to north east.
Referring to infrastructure and development, he lamented that despite Nagaland attaining 50 years of statehood, there is no single regional or national institute worth its name in the state. He continued that there is no technical or engineering institution in the state although Nagaland is the senior most state after Assam in the north east.
On recently released booklet on “11 years of NPF misrule in Nagaland under Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio”, an expose by NPCC, Rio said that he too has gone through it, and all those questions and allegations has already been replied in the House.
He further stated that “we have to keep our doors open so that investors, entrepreneurs etc could come and invest here in Nagaland.” In this regard, Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZs) in consultation with the tribal hohos, land owners is being conceived for creating more employment opportunities, Rio said.
Regarding the salary for SSA teachers, he asked the teachers to bear with the department since the funds has not been released by the GoI.
Replying to work-charged employees’ protest, he said salaries were being paid till February 2014 and government is incurring Rs. 63.27 crore for the salaries of work charged employees.
He also asked the HoDs to avoid random appointment on the eve of their retirement.
On non-detention policy, Rio said that the government will take up the matter with the ministry. He said that this policy will destroy quality education and a sense of competition. He strongly advocated that exam must be there to have quality children.
Later, motion of thanks to Governor’s address was adopted and passed by a voice vote.
(With inputs from DIPR)
