DIMAPUR, Feb 6 � After emerging victorious in the trust vote without any opposition in the 60-member House, a jubilant Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang today said the air of confusion has been cleared and the contentious issues resolved on the floor of the House.
All the 59 legislators, including the opposition Congress, barring the Speaker voted in favour of Zeliang in the trust vote yesterday. Stating that the vote of confidence in the House is a resounding call to the legislators across party lines, Zeliang appealed to the �misguided NPF MLAs� to return to the party-fold and said the vacant Ministerial posts will be filled at an appropriate time.
Addressing a press conference at his official residence in Kohima last evening, Zeliang asserted that the declared stand of his government is that all must work collectively and unitedly to arrive at a solution to the Naga political issue at the earliest. On the development front, he said the Nagas must be economically self-reliant.
�The curtains have finally come down on the political development during the past month or so. Non-issues were made into sensational issues and had been blown out of proportion, and the Council of Ministers bore the brunt of the onslaught,� Zeliang said.
Zeliang maintained that the matter would have been resolved much earlier had the Governor summoned the session after his request made on January 9 and also the recommendation of the Cabinet on January 15. He, however, said the Governor while maintaining that it was an internal matter of the NPF had given enough time for reconciliation. Since it did not happen, the Governor summoned the session, he added.
Democracy is not simply about numbers alone but it is also about adherence to principles and beliefs and the supremacy of the rule of law, Zeliang said.
�The result of voting in the special Assembly session has exposed the hollowness of the claims of those who sought the dismissal of my government,� he said while expressing gratitude to the NPF party led by president Dr Sh�rhozelie Liezietsu, office bearers and workers, parties of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) coalition, Congress Legislature Party under Tokheho Yepthomi and the Independent legislators for extending their support to the Council of Ministers headed by him.
Declaring that the doors are open for the dissident group, Zeliang, however, cautioned that those who continue to indulge in anti-party activities will be appropriately dealt with.
It may be mentioned that G Kaito Aye-led 22 dissident NPF legislators launched a rebellion against Zeliang on January 5.
