Nagaland: Congress asks CM, ministers to declare assets

Kohima, Jun 10: Opposition Congress in Nagaland has asked the chief minister and other ministers to declare their assets and business interests.

Leader of opposition Tokheho Yepthomi said the way the prime minister directed his ministereial colleagues to declare their assets including that of their spouses, Neiphiu Rio should also ask his ministers to disclose their assets and business interests.

He reminded the chief minister that as part of a yearly routine exercise, the union cabinet secretary in a letter dated June 2, 2011 to the state chief ministers and other ministers asked them to declare their assets and liabilities and submit by August 31, 2011 in accordance with the code of conduct for ministers.

In this connection, the CLP leader, in a statement, made an appeal to the chief minister to make effort to implement the code of conduct "in true Christian spirit" without further delay.

The cabinet ministers, parliamentary secretaries and advisers should be made to comply in declaring their assets and liabilities before August 31, Yepthomi insisted, saying that the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government should live up to its commitment of giving transparent and accountable dispensation.

Opposition leader referred to paragraph 1(a) of the code of conduct which states that "disclose to the Prime Minister, or the Chief Minister, as the case may be, details of the assets and liabilities, and of business interests, of himself and of members of his family".

"The details to be disclosed shall consist of particulars of all immovable property and the total approximate value of shares and debentures, cash holdings and jewelry. Such a statement of assets and liabilities could be in respect of the financial year for which the income tax return has already been filed by the ministers," the code says.

Meanwhile, the opposition, in another statement, said the state needs "a strong chief minister and a home minister" to curb the rising crime in Nagaland, particularly the deepening extortion culture and assaults on lives of its citizens.

"If the DAN government is worth its salt, let it wake up from the slumber and show its existence. The people of Nagaland deserve a strong, performing home minister. How long will the chief minister take to heed the voices of the people?," the NPCC said.

Last week, the home minister, presiding over a high-level meeting, reviewed the situation arising out of illegal taxation by various orgnisations, unions and even by certain government departments at Dimapur and announced certain measures to contain the extortion menace.

PTI