Patil gives her assent, Nagaland now under Prez rule

NEW DELHI: Nagaland was brought under central rule with President Pratibha Patil putting her stamp of approval on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet in this regard on Thursday night. The President, who was handed over the recommendation on Wednesday, signed the proclamation this evening, Home Ministry sources said.

Patil, who is at present in Hyderabad, had received the decision of the cabinet taken at its unscheduled meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 1. The Cabinet meeting was convened at short notice to discuss the political situation in Nagaland against the backdrop of the BJP-backed Democratic Alliance winning a controversial no-confidence motion last month.

Chief minister Neiphiu Rio survived the trial of strength on the floor of the Assembly on December 13 when it was defeated 23-19 in the 60-member House after Speaker barred three independents from taking part in voting and held that the votes of nine dissident ruling NPF members were invalid.

The imposition of central rule came ahead of the assembly elections due in Nagaland in February. The CM asserted that such a move is illegal and unconstitutional. “I’ve come to power only after being elected democratically and my government had won the trust vote,” he saidtold a news agency.

“The Congress wants to disrupt the election. If they impose President’s rule and dismiss my democratically-elected government, it would be nothing but murder of democracy,” Mr Rio said.