Patton, Along in Delhi; awaits Centre’s take on proposed NUG

August 30, 2021 44 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, AUG 30 (NPN) : Nagaland BJP faces an agonising wait over whether or not to finally go ahead with the decision for formation of the controversial all-party government titled ‘Nagaland United Government’ (NUG) comprising of PDA constituents (NDPP, BJP & Independent) and opposition NPF legislators.

After the August 13 joint resolution signed by the PDA coalition- NDPP and BJP with opposition NPF to form the proposed NUG, union home minister Amit Shah on August 19 summoned chief minister Neiphiu Rio, BJP legislature party leader and deputy chief minister Y. Patton and state BJP president and minister higher education & tribal affairs Temjen Imna Along to Delhi for discussion over the issue.

It may be recalled that the NUG was mooted for all legislators to be under one government for the Naga political issue and also to act as facilitators to bring all stakeholders together for early solution to the Naga political issue.

However, the BJP central leaders maintained that since all legislators are together under the Core Committee for the Naga political issue, there was no need to bring all legislators to form an all-party government for the same issue.

After the meeting with home minister Amit Shah on August 21, chief minister Neiphiu Rio returned to Nagaland while both Patton and Imna Along stayed back in Delhi for further consultations.

Sources said Rio was also informed to get back over the proposed NUG in the light of the views of the Centre being made known.

When contacted over phone, Imna Along, who is currently in Delhi along with Y. Patton, informed Nagaland Post that since BJP high command will decide on the proposed NUG, the state BJP legislature will act as per the directives of its leaders.

The state BJP organisation is also faced with differences of opinions when senior party workers on August 26 expressed total opposition against the proposed NUG.

The press statement by the BJP party workers was followed by both NDPP and NPF holding their respective consultative meetings among legislators and party functionaries on August 28 in which the two parties reaffirmed the resolution for NUG.

While the NDPP and NPF reaffirmed the decision for NUG, the state BJP is yet to take the call since the final decision over the issue is to be decided by the BJP high command.

There are speculations over what would happen if BJP high command decides not to go ahead with the proposed NUG. BJP may decline on the ground that an opposition-less assembly and government does not serve the people and is also undemocratic and cannot guarantee securing of an early political settlement.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/patton-along-in-delhi-awaits-centre-s-take-on-proposed-nug/239280.html