".....today it was as a result of neglect by the present (Nagaland) Govt, and they (people and leaders of Eastern Nagaland) were compelled to approach directly the GoI for a separate state, and ultimately the "present arrangement was made even without routing through the elected government"
.. It speaks volumes about the status and image of the state under Rio. "
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COMMENTS ON FRONTIER NAGALAND AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL
BY S C Jamir,
FORMER CM & ex- GOVERNOR, Maharashtra and Gujarat
As appeared in the media for creation of the Frontier Nagaland Autonomous Council is indeed a welcomed step provided it really serves the interests of the people of that area.
As a citizen of India and also an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland , I take this opportunity to point out the difference between the Regional Council appeared at no.10(3) of the Sixteen Points Agreement of 1960 and Creation of Frontier Nagaland Autonomous Council 2023.
It is both historical and political reality which can not be denied by any one. Nagaland was formed by representatives of the then Naga Hills and Tuensang Frontier Division of NEFA and to be a part and parcel of the Indian Union.
All the deliberations on all issues and problems were according to democratic norms. Politically and constitutionally all are members of the same family.
It was felt by the leaders of the Naga Peoples Convention at that point of time that during British administration in India Tuensang areas were unadministered, and thus a special provision be made to bring these areas through special arrangement,for development and in the art of governance and accordingly special provision was made for Tuensang district as indicated above.
But today it was as a result of neglect by the present govt, and they were compelled to approach directly the GOI for a separate state ,and ultimately the present arrangement was made even without routing through the elected government.. It speaks volumes about the status and image of the state under Rio.
We are talking about autonomy of the Frontier Nagaland but what happened to the autonomy of Nagaland guaranteed under the Constitution?
Who is at fault ? Let the enlightened citizens of Nagaland decide who is to be blamed.
Nagaland of today is a land of factions and groups, multiple authorities without any authority, and misgovernance and corruptions of the highest order. For all these mess, the present leadership has to answer. In the name of integration, trend had already set in for disintegration. Nagaland will no more be the same unless a drastic change is made in all departments of administration even including polity. Let us all wish all the best for the Frontier Nagaland Autonomous Council. But under the present political dispensation the future of Nagaland is bleak.!
"Chief Minister Rio is solely responsible and therefore owning responsibility, he should voluntarily resign admitting his weakness and fault and sense of favouritism and nepotism."
---- K L Chishi, former Chief Minister:
The concentration of power and development in a few areas of Nagaland state has led to such a disastrous consequences.
"The episode is an unfortunate culmination of the utter negligence of the Neiphiu Rio government since 2003. The Chief Minister has amassed wealth from the funds meant for the development and for equitable distribution of funds for the state and people of Nagaland with particular reference to developments of areas of Eastern Nagaland region.
He has never offered a commendable position tothe people of the eastern region of Nagaland and because of gross injustice meted out to such peopleand neglected developmental activities, the people have risen against the state of Nagaland.
This has led to fragmentation of the state. People in the region lost their patience and called it enough is enough".
Theja Therieh, social activist also associated with Nagaland Tribes Council and Nagaland People's Action Committee
"Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is responsible for delaying peace process and sobotaging the Solution process and also voluntarily given up without any attempt to resolve, compensate or correct the wrongs on ENPO differences leading to dividing people of the state.
He is the man behind creating rifts and polarisation between the tribes and Civil Societies to fish in the troubled water for his kith and kin."
(Full statement of K L Chishi, former CM, Nagaland)
Dated: 1/Feb/2023
My attention was drawn to news reports in local media that the Government of Indiahas possibly agreed in principle to grant 'Autonomous Council' to the people ofEastern Nagaland.
The episode is an unfortunate culmination of the utter negligence of the Neiphiu Rio government since 2003. The Chief Minister has amassed wealth from the funds meant for the development and for equitable distribution of funds for the state and people of Nagaland with particular reference todevelopments of areas of Eastern Nagaland region. He has never offered a commendable position tothe people of the eastern region of Nagaland and because of gross injustice meted out to such people and neglected developmental activities, the people have risen against the state of Nagaland.
This has led to fragmentation of the state. People in the region lost their patience and called it enough is enough and so they struggled with strong determination to separate themselves though at one point of time they had agreed to stay with the state of Nagaland for the unity of the Nagas.
The situation may deserve immediate stay of the electoral process without which the conduct of election for 40 members of the state Assembly may be vitiated or may come under scrutiny of courts or parliament as may be appropriate.
The people of the eastern region of Nagaland appealed to the Govt of India and the centre took a serious view of the grievances leading to separation.
The concentration of power and development in a few areas of Nagaland state has led to such disastrous consequences. Rio must own the responsibility as he has been the Chief Minister all along since 2003. He is solely responsible and therefore owning responsibility, he should voluntarily resign admitting his weakness and fault and sense of favouritism and nepotism.
There is nothing more to add except that he should resign immediately or otherwise this is a fit case for theGovernor of Nagaland to dismiss Rio's government.
Another aspect is that the State of Nagaland Act was passed by Parliament in 1960 for the statehoodof Nagaland with 60 elected members forming the state legislature with a separate Governor.
As the state of Nagaland now stands fragmented, reducing it to a 40-member House. This I perceive is a violation of the Constitution of India vis-a-vis the State of Nagaland Act of 1960. This is a fit case todeem it violation of the constitution and now it is in the state of crisis. And when there is a Constitutional crisis,the leader must step down else a government is fit for dismissal.
The Parliament of India shall have to enact a new law and therefore in such a case the Article 356 need beinvoked. The election in the state of Nagaland for 40 assembly seats (with 20 exit from Eastern Nagaland), will be infractous even if elections are held without 60 members.
Therefore, now with the Autonomous Council and the state is getting fragmented, there will be need fora 60-member House requiring Amendment to the Constitution and it clearly depicts the failure of the Rio government for which the Chief Minister needs to step down.
Dimapur, Nagaland
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