Nagaland Assembly resolves to fight for rights of Nagas

The Nagaland Legislative Assembly today resolved to stand to fight for the rights of the Naga people as guaranteed under Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India.

The resolution was adopted today following the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) rejecting Nagaland government's floating of its own oil exploration rules (Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2012).

Almost two-hours discussion was held on the MHA stand on the floor of the House on Saturday, wherein the 60-member House were unanimous to that the right of the Naga people on ownership over land and its resources as enshrined in Article 371(A) of the Constitution should be upheld.

Subsequently, the Minister in-charge of Geology and Mining, T R Zeliang today presented the resolution stating the House unanimously "upholds the Nagaland State Legal Framework on Petroleum and Natural Gas comprised in the Resolution of the House under Article 371(A) clause (1) (a) of the Constitution of India adopted on July 2010, the Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulation, 2012 and the Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules 2012 farmed by the State Government on November 2012, as constitutionally valid."

The resolution than put to vote by the NLA Speaker Chotisuh Sazo was adopted by voice vote.