Congress warns government against measures to weaken Article 371(A)

The Nagaland Congress today warned the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government against taking up any measures to weaken Article 371(A) of the Constitution in the name of development.

The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) cautioned the state government through a resolution of its joint meeting held at Congress Bhavan here. A copy of the resolution made available to the media stated that the joint meeting was attended by the eight Congress Legislature Party members, NPCC office bearers and members, frontal chiefs and presidents of District Congress Committee.

Deliberating on various contentious issues of public importance especially on the DAN government's proposed Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZs) along the foothills of the state, wherever possible, the Congress unanimously resolved that the proposed NSDZ be strictly implemented in accordance with the provisions under Article 371A of the Constitution bestowed on the state.

Maintaining that the resolution was passed in the State Assembly on March 24 last, the Congress also asked the government to establish NSDZs without contravening the relevant legislations already passed by the State Assembly. Further resolving to warn the DAN government against taking any measures to weaken Article 371A in the name of development, the Congress said "the hard earned constitutional safeguards under Article 371A remains the basic foundation of the people of Nagaland."