DIMAPUR, Dec 13 � Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie has informed that the meeting of the Joint Legislators� Forum (JLF) of Nagaland Legislative Assembly scheduled for today stands cancelled as the representatives of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) expressed their inability to attend it through the leader of Opposition.
The meeting of 20 members had been slated for 11.30 am on Thursday at the Speaker�s official residence.
The 20-member JLF team includes Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie, Opposition leader Tokheho Yepthomi, NPCC president SI Jamir, ministers Dr Sh�rhozelie, Imkong L Imchen, TR Zeliang, MC Konyak, Dr Chumben Murry, Kuzholuzo, Kaito and P Longon, MLAs Chingwang Konyak, I Imkong, H Chuba, Joshua, KV Pusa and Hewoto and MPs Khekiho and CM Chang.
It may be mentioned that in the last JLF meeting held on December 10 at Chumumedima Police Complex, the members had decided to consult all political parties, civil society and church organisations to resolve the Naga political issue.
Meanwhile, a release issued by NPCC president SI Jamir informed that the Opposition party held a meeting today to deliberate on the proposed suggestion made by the JLF on December 10 to consult all political parties, civil societies and the church organisations to request the Government of India for deferment of the State Assembly elections due in March 2013 till a solution is arrived at.
He said the NPCC leaders agreed with the suggestion made by the JLF, but on the condition that the Speaker is made the convener and a meeting of all political parties be convened at the shortest possible time to deliberate on the deferment of elections.
Since the proposed working committee of the JLF does not include most of the political parties as they have no sitting MLA, the NPCC felt that it will be more befitting and appropriate to convene the meeting under the leadership of the Speaker, the release stated. The meeting was attended by NPCC executives, Political Affairs Committee (PAC) members and legislators.
In another development, Naga People�s Front (NPF) president Dr Sh�rhozelie has reportedly not agreed to the idea of dragging the church into the so-called �consultative meet�.
�The church workers are supposed to work on spiritual lines, whereas we are dealing with hard politics. In my opinion, the church should never be involved in such a meet,� he explained. �If we don�t differentiate and observe this, we are going wrong,� he maintained.
