NPF & NPP demand withdrawal of July 17 directive
Dimapur, July 23 (MExN): The Nagaland government’s order directing its employees in the Nagaland Civil Secretariat and Directorates to get vaccinated or to produce negative COVID-19 test report every 15 days has prompted response from the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and National People’s Party (NPP).
In separate statements on July 23, the NPF and NPP both demanded withdrawal of the July 17 directive, stating that inoculation should be voluntary and not imposed.
The NPF on Friday termed the State government’s directive as ‘unreasonable and dictatorial in nature’.
While acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken the State by storm, and that the option of vaccination to limit the spread of the infection is comprehensible, the NPF opined that the same cannot be made compulsory.
It stated that the directive imposing ‘forceful vaccination and demanding COVID-19 negative test report every 15 days’ from the employees will not go down well with any State, and termed it not only “a clear violation of human rights challenging Article 14 & 21 of the Indian Constitution”, but also a contempt of Court.
“COVID-19 vaccination is voluntary and the same is validated by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the binding precedents of the Supreme Court of India,” it asserted.
It also cited judgments passed by the Mizoram High Court and Meghalaya High Court to illustrate that COVID-19 vaccination is ‘purely voluntarily’.
As such, the NPF noted that no one can be forced, coerced, lured, or pressurized to take the vaccine. Imposing forceful vaccination on its employees by the State government can only be seen as a deliberate abuse of power, it added.
In this regard, the NPF advised the State government to follow the mandate laid down by the court of law and policies framed by the Government of India and review its July 17 notification as it is “a violation of Fundamental Rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India.”
Look for alternative ways: NPP
Meanwhile, the National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland State voiced a similar opinion, and accused the State government of being inconsiderate and termed its directive as ‘unreasonable and unethical’.
While appreciating the efforts of the State government during the pandemic, the party expressed dismay over the directive ‘forcing’ COVID-19 vaccination on all government employees, schools and colleges along with demanding COVID-19 negative test report every 15 days on their own expenses.
It questioned how the government expects the people to afford COVID-19 tests every 15 days when the price inflation and adjustments to pandemic circumstances are already causing threats to survival.
It further queried as to why the government cannot make COVID-19 tests free for everyone from the cess pool and Central/State Fund.
“The NPP Nagaland takes the order as a direct challenge to Article 21 of Indian Constitution,” it asserted, while adding that it is also contempt of the Supreme Court of India and the recent judgment of Meghalaya High Court.
It sought immediate withdrawal of the order and appealed the State government to look out for an alternative way of conducting offices, schools and colleges without hindering the proceedings of daily works.
“It is undeniable that at this juncture, vaccination is the need of the hour, but we can only go to the extreme of encouraging each and every citizen rather than manipulating them through holding leverage of their basic necessities and right to work,” it reasoned.
