Kohima: The central headquarters of Shurhozelie-led Naga Peoples Front has asserted that there is no constitutional or legal provision for T R Zeliang government to continue and said Zeliang became the Chief Minister of Nagaland without letter of support from the party he belonged to and also without letter of support from the legislature party.
According to a press statement, NPF central stated that Zeliang, who claims to be the leader of the legislature party under para 3 and 4 of the tenth schedule as per the rules of the members of Nagaland legislative assembly (disqualification on ground of defection) rules 3, cannot take the shelter of the rules 3 provisions because paragraph 3 of the tenth schedule of the Constitution of India which talks about split by one third of legislators in a party has been omitted by the 91st amendment of the Constitution of India.
Stating that para 4 of the tenth schedule talks about disqualification on ground of defection not to apply in case of merger, the statement added he also cannot take the shelter of rules 3 of the members of the Nagaland legislative assembly (disqualification on ground of defection) rules 2003 because no merger had taken place.
The party also accused the Governor of infringing upon the Constitution of India by summoning assembly when the duly constituted council of ministers headed by the Chief Minister did not recommend it.
The Shurhozelie-led NPF further expressed shock that the Governor, as the guardian of the Constitution of India, is allowing the “unconstitutional” government of TR Zeliang in Nagaland. “Saying that they have enough numbers to run the government is quite contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of India and the tenth schedule,” it added.
Meanwhile, the statement accused the Speaker of Nagaland legislative assembly of misusing his office.
“The election of Neiphiu Rio as interim president of NPF by NPF legislature party is another unconstitutional evidence to legitimise the unconstitutional government,” it stated.
It also asserted that the issue now is whether the government of the day is constitutional or unconstitutional. “It is for the citizens of Nagaland to judge. For NPF, the rights of the citizens of Nagaland to be governed as per law and constitution of the country shall remain as our top priority responsibility.”
Meanwhile, in response to four NPF legislators from Kohima district condemning the ultimatum served by the Northern Angami-I Assembly Constituency youth wing to close down the office of Neiphiu Rio-led NPF, the NPF Kohima division has asserted “nowhere in the constitution of the NPF party there is provision for a parallel office and an interim President post.”
A rejoinder from the NPF Kohima division further wondered “how the NPF central office under the presidentship of Shurhozelie Liezietsu has come under dispute as stated by them (legislators), when it is the only legitimate office and functioning smoothly without the interference of the suspended legislators.”
The division also voiced out its resentment at the 15-day ultimatum served to its president Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu to step down. Further, it asked legislators to desist from using the NPF party name in vain anymore and also to stop issuing misleading statements in the press.
“The Kohima division once again, in true reconciliation spirit calls upon all the suspended legislators to come back to the party fold headed by Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu when the door is still open for them,” it added. (UNI)
