Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 5
Leader of Opposition, TR Zeliang has questioned the NDPP-led PDA government as to why it has still not released a sum of Rs 96 crore (Grant-in -Aid) meant for the Village Development Boards (VDBs) for three years including 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2018-19. He said the GIA for 2017-18 has already been paid by the state government.
Addressing media persons at his residence in Dimapur on Saturday, Zeliang informed that unlike other schemes, the GIA for VDBs was planned to benefit every household in the villages of the state. He informed that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 185.09 crores (additional grant by Niti Ayog) on November 8, 2017 for Nagaland and a High Level Committee (HLC) was constituted under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary on December 13, 2017 as per laid down guidelines. Out of the total amount, the HLC had approved a sum of Rs 96 crore for three financial years and that it was finalized and signed on January 17, 2018.
However, Zeliang said that with the Model Code of Conduct coming into effect following the announcement of State Assembly elections, the fund could not be released by the DAN government. He pointed out that after the formation of PDA government; the Finance Department released the total amount of Rs 185.09 crore to the Rural Development Department in March 2018. “However, in contravention to the guidelines, the present government has not released the Grant-in-Aid to the VDBs of the State, which is highly questionable,” Zeliang said.
He demanded the current dispensation to answer to the people as to where the Rs 96 crore had disappeared or why was there a delay of 10 months in releasing the amount to the VDBs. “Who has looted Rs 96 crore?” he questioned.
Zeliang also implored upon the office of the Governor to take cognizance of the irregularity and question as to why the decision of the HLC constituted by the Governor was undermined.
Further, Zeliang said that the government has cut down on the allocation of fund under GIA to various departments overstepping the authority of HLC which had earlier allotted more fund to the departments including Power, PHE, H&FW and School Education.
Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016
The Leader of the Opposition also came down heavily on the PDA government for not opposing the Citizenship Bill 2016 which according to him will provide access to outsiders for inward travel into Nagaland.
He said various NGOs had registered their opposition to the Bill, yet the Cabinet felt that Nagaland was protected under Article 371 (A) and the ILP Regulations. Zeliang said Article 371 (A) and ILP Regulations had nothing to do with Citizenship Bill. He recalled the statement of Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, who said that the Nagaland government would oppose such amendment if it goes against the interest of the people, “otherwise, Government of Nagaland will not interfere in national policies.”
“This reveals the fact that, despite growing opposition of the Bill, the State Cabinet in its meeting had either decided not to oppose the said Bill intentionally or had taken the decision without understanding the content of the said Bill, its significance and possible ramifications,” Zeliang stated in his letter to the CM dated July 16, 2018 which was made available to the press.
He said the CM was yet to reply to his letter. He accused the PDA government of arriving at such decision to “gratify the Central government at the cost of the Naga people.” Zeliang said that the cabinet decision not to interfere in national policies “without understanding the implications of the Bill is a clear threat on the Nagas and their identity.”
“PDA government should clarify to the people so that people will understand why we should not oppose the Bill,” he added. MLA Imkong Imchen who was also present at the press conference said that the Citizenship Bill would be a “negative determining factor for survival of the Naga people. MLA Moatoshi also said that the government should not fool the people and urged the CM to protect the interest of the Nagas.
