The Nagaland Municipal (Second Amendment) Bill 2007 passed during the one day 15th session of the 10th Nagaland Legislative Assembly resonate the character and ideology of the present regime. The political water has only got murkier by this act of prejudice and reflects that the Government in power will, at all cost barter the interest and welfare of the people to achieve their political ambitions in the process succumbing to the pressure of the political bigwigs.
The Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 was and ought to be in the interest of the public. The Act is not a political wand to be twisted and bent swaying to the whims and fancies of the Government at the helm of affairs. This act of bigotry has set a very bad precedent and has left numerous rooms for unscrupulous elements to raise their heads that will use this instance as a leverage to carry out their political vendetta, thereby undermining the guiding principle of this Act.
Interestingly as per the Amendment that is sought for, the MP (Lok Sabha) by virtue of his Office will be an Ex Officio member, voting in the elections of Kohima Municipal Council/Jalukie Town Council with whom he would have had no dealings whatsoever. Without any sense of chauvinism, he would be involving himself in the matters of the Jalukie valley without knowing what bodes well or ail the people. Or for that matter the MP ( Rajya Sabha) will be a part and parcel of Mon Town Council or Wokha Town Council by merit of his designation who will also be voting in matters relating to the welfare of the people of that particular area. Going by the look of things, the Amendment would throw the state into total jeopardy with the principle of good governance lost. There would be instability and that ambiance for development mooted by copious governments would be found wanting. This Amendment would leave much room for equations after equations. In a Council of Nine, even if a Group/Party attain a simple majority to run the Council, the inclusion of both the MP’s as Ex Officio Members plus the Area MLA would sum up the whole issue differently altogether thereby suppressing and denying the mandate of the People. For instance, an Opposition party even on winning Five seats in a council of Nine cannot run the Council as the number to run the Council will be determined by the MP’S (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and the Area MLA. As such, in circumstances like these, the mandate and will of the people will boil down to nothing. Democratic institutions are not meant to do that. They are to reflect the mandate and will of the people of the Area. The proposed modification is applicable in Municipal Corporations and Metros where the populace is large and the elected Representative ought to have a say in the working of the council. In our context, the proposed Amendment intends to tear down the principle of Democracy it envisages to uphold. Don’t make us comprehend that politics is all about numbers, where the mandate and will of the people can be taken for a ride.
Calling the attention of all like minded Councilors and the general public of Nagaland to protect the democratic set up, it is an ardent appeal to the Government at the helm to safeguard the interest of the people while formulating policies and Amendments. In the interest of the State
(Namziehegwangdui), (Haireulungbe Siang)
Councilor Peren Town Council.
