The Nagaland People’s Council (NPC),
the main opposition regional political party in the
State has urged State Governor Shyamal Datta to take
corrective measures to immediately stop the
"mismanagement of the affairs of Nagaland in the hands
of the Congress (I) party regime".
In a representation, NPC President Huska Sumi,
Secretary General Chubatemjen Ao and five other office
bearers of the party alleged that the Congress (I)
regime under the leadership of SC Jamir had landed
Nagaland in a "Debt trap" as judged from the State’s
debt burden figures which had increased from a little
over Rs 100 crore in 1994-95 to Rs 1800 crore in
2002-03, involving debt servicing of Rs 301 crore
which was 24% of the total non-plan budgetary
provisions and also by the fact that by the turn of
next fiscal year, the Budget had projected the State’s
debt burden at Rs 2104 crore, as another Rs 304 crore
would be borrowed from various financial institutions
during the current financial year.
The regional opposition party also expressed surprise
over the Government of India allowing Nagaland
Government to borrow money indiscriminately from
financial institutions without justification, because
under article 293(3)(4) of the Indian Constitution,
any State intending to borrow, over and above the
prescribed norms, has to obtain prior consent and
approval from the Center.
The NPC further alleged that the State’s revenue
expenditure has increased by geometrical progression
from Rs 584 crore in 1994-95 to Rs 2461.90 crore,
without any corresponding increase in the growth rate
of the State’s economy.
The party therefore requested the Governor to impress
upon the State Government to bring out a white paper
on both Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) and District
Planning Board Funds (DPF). It further expressed
regrets that the Government of India has not taken
necessary corrective steps to put things on the right
tract, despite the dismal financial limbo prevalent in
the State.
Regarding the unemployment problem, the NPC said the
State government did not pay any attention to solve
the problem resulting in increasing of unemployment
figure to 40000. "All along the Government has
miserably failed to provide right direction and
leadership to the youth, rather misguiding them and
initiating a ploy to convert the youth into hooligans
and ruffians for hijacking democracy during elections
in order to perpetuate its dynastic rule in the State
through the weapon of Corpus Fund", the party further
stated.
The NPC also said considering the magnitude of the
State Lottery Scam which seemed to have crossed Rs
54000 crore was a fit case to initiate actions for
speedy prosecution.
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