The Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) has expressed its inability to attend the special meeting of all tribal hohos convened by the Political Affairs Committee at State Banquet Hall in Kohima on May 11 to discuss issues concerning the ongoing peace talks and the women reservation policies in urban local bodies among others.
In a press release issued by Opposition MLA Imkong L Imchen on Tuesday said the NPF is constrained to express its inability to attend the meeting as it is not routed through the appropriate authority that is the Speaker and also because no formal intimation was communicated to the leader of Opposition until now.
Imchen pointed out that in the past, the ruling party used to officially communicate to the Opposition for fixing such a meeting and the Speaker being neutral used to convene the meeting.
The senior NPF leader and former minister further stated even though the leader of Opposition, TR Zeliang requested the Speaker of the Assembly to convene the meeting of the Legislators Forum for Naga political issue in the last budget session held in March last, it was not convened by the appropriate authority.
In the present case, Imchen said, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy has issued a circular on April 30 stating that the Political Affairs Committee is convening a special meeting of all tribal hohos on May 11 to discuss these issues. According to the circular, each hoho is to be represented by three office bearers/members.
Again, Commissioner & Secretary, Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat, N Benjamin Newmai issued a bulletin Part-II on May 7 informing about the Political Affairs Committee meeting with all legislators at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima on May 9 to discuss over early settlement of the Naga political issue, Imchen stated.