Nagaland Assembly convenes "emergent session"

Kohima, Apr 1 (UNI) The Nagaland Assembly has summoned an ''emergent session'' of its legistlative mambers on April four amid controversy over the issue of ''Office of Profit'' in the state.

Speaker Kiyanlie Peseyie, in an emergency meeting on Thursday last had decided for the ''emergent session'' for a threadbare discussions among the legislators on the issue of ''Office of Profit''. The Advocate General of Nagaland is likely to deliberate with the members of the House on ''the Nagaland state legislative members' (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964, during the one-day session.

In the Cabinet meeting, the members were briefed about the Act as it was believed that it protects the state legislators holding offices from its purview.

The Cabinet decided to send a copy of the Nagaland state legislative members' (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964 to the Election Commission for reference.

It also revoked its earlier decision of March 8 last to include the office of the leader of the Opposition list under the said Act on the ground that its decision was taken without consulting the Advocate General of the state.

''Office of Profit'' issue was initiated by the Opposition Congress through a petition to the Nagaland Governor demanding disqualification of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on the ground that he ''held the Office of Profit as chairman of the state sports council and the Nagaland Bamboo Mission''.

However, the Nagaland Peoples' Front (NPF), a partner of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), demanded disqualification of Leader of Opposition I Imkong on the ground that his post was not exempted from ''Office of Profit'' under the Nagaland state legislative members' (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964.

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