A week long budget session of Nagaland assembly began today with opposition Congress members resorting to a novel way of protest demanding actions against what they called "corrupt ministers and parliamentary secretaries in the state".
As soon as the House assembled for the day in the morning hours,the Congress legislators except one member, were seen entering the assembly wearing placards on their chest and sat quietly to participate in the day’s proceedings. Without making any noise the members participated in the proceedings wielding the placards which asked chief minister Neiphiu Rio to take action against the alleged erring ministers and parliamentary secretaries.
The placards made a specific reference to the detention of state Home minister Imkong Imchen at Kathmandu airport on June 30 describing the incident as "disgraceful" to the Nagas and the nation.
State Urban Development minister Shurhozelie during Question Hour following the obituary references drew attention of Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie to the act of the Congress legislators pointing out that the Rule 273 of Assembly
proceedings does not allow such action.
But the opposition leader Tokheho Yepthomi argued that since the Congress members did not disrupt the House
proceedings and expressed their grievances, they should be allowed to wear the placards so that a clear message goes to the treasury bench for necessary corrections in the functioning of the government.
But the opposition leader Tokheho Yepthomi argued that since the Congress members did not disrupt the House
proceedings and expressed their grievances, they should be allowed to wear the placards so that a clear message goes to the treasury bench for necessary corrections in the functioning of the government.
Amidst the arguments between the minister and the opposition leader, Congress legislator Kheto Kini read out the
contents of the placards and demanded actions from the chief minister against the Home minister and others in the DAN
ministry.
Pointing out that since the members displayed the placards for nearly 40 minutes and expressed their displeasure, the
speaker urged them to remove the same. Following the speaker’s directive the opposition members removed the placards and continued participating in the proceeding for the day.