Nagaland: PDA endorses state govt’s reply to Governor

The People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) on Friday endorsed the July 2 statement of the Nagaland government issued in response to the letter to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio by Governor RN Ravi on June 16. The PDA comprises NDPP, BJP and an Independent besides three other legislators who shifted allegiance from NPP (two) and JDU (one).

In the statement, the state government said the assessment of the law and order by the Nagaland Governor being precarious and grim and having deteriorated and collapsed since August 2019 does not appear to be factual.

In his letter to Rio, Ravi said there have been “unrestrained depredations” by over half a dozen “armed gangs” who are “brazenly running their so-called governments” and challenging the legitimacy of the state. He said he can no longer tolerate the near-total collapse of the law and order machinery in the state and decided to uphold his constitutional obligation to effect law and order in Nagaland under Article 371A(1)(b).

Adopting a six-point resolution at a meeting at the chief minister’s residential complex in Kohima, Nagaland, the PDA rejected the demand of the Opposition parties asking the PDA government to step down.

Also read: Nagaland Govt asks employees to self declare about relatives in underground

“The PDA is a democratically elected government that enjoys the mandate of the people which has been reinforced in successive Lok Sabha and Assembly bye-elections,” the resolutions signed by PDA convenor and NDPP president Chingwang Konyak and PDA co-convenor and BJP Nagaland president Temjen Imna Along said. The ruling alliance asserted that it will continue to carry out its constitutional duties with utmost commitment and dedication in the greater interest of the people.

The PDA observed that as members of the largest democracy in the world, it is bounden duty of everyone, especially the constitutional institutions, to uphold the spirit of democracy and to strengthen the democratic foundations of this great nation.

It took into account the concern of the Nagaland Governor on the overall scenario of the state on important matters related to the welfare of the people.

Saying that it had joined the people of the state in welcoming him to the state after his appointment, the PDA reiterated its commitment to extend its support and cooperation to the Governor to collectively work towards the common endeavours of achieving lasting peace and all round development in the state.

The PDA also reiterated its call for early resolution of the decades-old Indo-Naga political issue through a negotiated political solution that is honourable and acceptable to the people.

It appealed to the negotiating parties to expedite the peace process and bring an early political solution.

The PDA appreciated the state government and all its machinery which have been successfully working round the clock for the past four months in combating the Covid-19 pandemic in Nagaland.

It also lauded all the frontline workers, church organisations, tribal hohos, mass-based organisations, civil societies, political parties and NGOs in Nagaland for making extraordinary sacrifices and jointly working with the state government to overcome the hurdles and challenges posed by the pandemic

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