Kohima, July 7 (IANS): Soccer fever has struck Nagaland with half of the council of ministers led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio already in South Africa and are all set for the World Cup finals in Johannesburg July 11.
Of the 12 council of ministers, six of them are on a 10-day holiday to South Africa -Rio, Home Minister Imkong L Imchen, Planning, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister TR Zeliang, Health and Family Welfare Minister Azo Nienu, Power Minister Doshehe Sema, and Agriculture Minister Chumben Murry. Besides the ministers, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Department Pangnyu Phom and press secretary to the Chief Minister Abu Metha are also in the South African safari team from Nagaland.
The team would make the most of the junket by visiting places of interests in South Africa apart from being at the Soccer City Stadium for the finals.
"After all the ministers are taking a break for few days," a close aide of the chief minister told IANS requesting not to be named.
But the trip has come under attack from the opposition Congress party who accused the ministers of enjoying a 'holiday' when the state is reeling under an acute financial burden and the budget session due later this month.
"The visit would cost the state exchequer dearly and it is all public money," said Nagaland state Congress president I. Imkong said.
The Chief Minister, before leaving for the junket, said it was a 'holiday package' without elaborating on the finances involved.
Interestingly, the Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, will present the State Budget during the session beginning July 22. The State last year had a deficit Budget of Rs 4 billion.
"Even this time it would be a deficit budget to the tune of millions and still you find the Chief Minister and half of his Cabinet partying in South Africa," the Congress leader said. But for the time being, the Naga lawmakers are having a whale of time in South Africa.
