Nagaland minister clarifies: Any legislator can ask questions

The minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Kiyanilie Peseyie, has responded to a news report in the local media stating to have carried statements of an “undisclosed NPF legislator” that “legislators are not allowed to ask questions in the (Nagaland Legislative) assembly.

The minister issued a press release as clarification.  

The minister called the alleged statement “highly reprehensible” and “devoid of any truth or basis, and appears to be a mischievous statement with the intention of tarnishing the image, reputation and integrity of the present government” and to “projecting it as an autocratic/ despotic government.”

The press release stated as a democratic tradition by heads of governments to convene “coordination meeting” of legislators prior to the legislative sessions. In the case of Nagaland, he, Peseyie, being the minister in-charge of Parliamentary Affairs, convenes a “coordination meeting” for NPF legislators before assembly sessions; or the chief minister convenes one for the DAN legislators “just like the one convened yesterday at 4 pm at Kohima.”

During such meetings, “far from restricting legislators to ask questions,” the chief minister and senior ministers “encourage the members to ask questions and give constructive criticisms on the functioning of the various departments so that they can acquaint themselves with the activities of the government departments, check irregularities if any, and also keep the government officials on their toes to deliver goods to the people,” the press release claimed.

Further, in the absence of an opposition in the 12th assembly, “it is unimaginable that good governance can be provided if ruling legislators themselves do not give constructive suggestions, opinions and even criticisms as and when required,” the clarification asserted.

“Therefore, rather than muffling the voices of dissent and criticism from the ruling Legislators themselves, it is left to the wisdom of the legislators to raise any issue or question pertaining to their constituencies or elsewhere.”

Regarding the quoted legislator’s reported comments on the cabinet’s decision on the 33% reservation for women in the Urban Local Bodies, and also the ratification of the GST Bill, “I can only say that the legislator has a poor and limited knowledge about the legal realities as well as the positive implications of the Goods & Services Tax Bill, 2016,” the rejoinder claimed.

Regarding the “issuance of whips” to all party Legislators, the minister said that the “said legislator who had gone to the media would do well to familiarise himself with democratic practices and norms.”

“Whip, he should know, is an official appointed by the party to maintain discipline among, secure attendance of, and give necessary information to, members of his party. It is a practice as old as democracy and there is nothing extraordinary to ensure members abide by the party rules, Principles and stand on various issues,” Peseyie stated.   

He has appealed to the legislators to “feel free and ask whatever questions they want to ask whether in the assembly or outside the assembly.”

(Al Ngullie, August 26, 2016; Eastern Mirror)

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