Congress slams Rio govt over Article 371(A)

DIMAPUR: Opposition Congress said the Naga People's Front (NPF) government was headed for a collision course with the Centre by repeatedly raking up the debate on Article 371 (A). It said the confrontational stance adopted by the NPF government would even jeopardize the Constitutional safeguards provided to the state under the article.
The state of Nagaland was formed in 1963 under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution.An outcome of the 16 Point Agreement signed between the Centre and the Naga People's Convention, gave the state special powers.
"While Congress has no hesitation in consulting people and tribal hohos on issues of public importance, the state government's approach towards calling for repeated consultative meetings to debate Article 371 (A) was totally wrong," a statement issued by the party said.
It said the NPF's assertion that NGOs and civil societies were invited to consultative meetings to solicit their views was "an added insult" as the meetings were more about imposing the divisive agenda of chief minister Neiphiu Rio to derive a false mandate under the guise of protecting the rights of people.