Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Zeliang opposes abrogation of �Special Category�

By Correspondent

DIMAPUR, June 1 � Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang has made a strong pitch against any unilateral abrogation of the �Special Category� status of Nagaland by the Union Government. He made the appeal saying the �Special Category� status guaranteed under the Constitution of India should not be abrogated when the Naga political issue is yet to be resolved.

Speaking at the NITI Aayog�s 3rd meeting of sub-group of CMs at Bhopal on Thursday, Zeliang reminded that Nagaland was created through a political agreement between the Government of India and the Naga People�s Convention under the terms of the 16-Point Agreement of 1960.

Zeliang proposed that all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) be funded fully by the Centre with respect to Nagaland and other NE States, if the Central Government planned to discontinue Normal Central Plan Assistance to States, including all schemes funded under NLCPR and NEC.

He also strongly pleaded for continuation of Police Modernisation Scheme and BRGF with Central funding.

Zeliang, in his presentation, mentioned poor state of infrastructural facilities in the NE and pleaded for larger Central investments for creating infrastructure so that �ache din� as promised by the PM would become a reality for the people of the region.

The sub-group meeting was also attended by CMs � Ommen Chandy (Kerala), Nabam Tuki (Arunachal Pradesh), K Chandrashekhar Rao (Telangana), Raghubir Das (Jharkhand) and Andaman and Nicobar Lieutanant Governor AK Singh.

Meanwhile, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) said removal of special category status to States on the basis of recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission, could not be a technical decision but was a political decision.

Next Story