Nitish Kumar to arrive on October 11

Janata Dal (United) supremo and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to arrive Nagaland on October 11. This was stated by JDU Nagaland unit general secretary Imsumongba Pongen at a press conference here on Friday.
He said Kumar would visit the State to attend All Nagaland Bihari Conference (ALBC) scheduled that day at Dimapur District Sports Complex (DDSC) here. He mentioned that the first-of-its-kind conference organised by Nagaland Bihari Samaj, Bihari Kalyan Samiti and Matri Foundation, Nagaland would be sponsored by JDU Nagaland to commemorate the 120th birth anniversary of Jaya Prakash Narayan, commonly referred to as JP.
Pongen further stated the conference was being organised to also acknowledge the contribution of Biharis in the political and economic spheres of lives in Nagaland ever since the days of JP, who came all the way from Bihar to work for peace in Nagaland. “This goes on to prove that it was the Biharis who had first contributed to the cause of the Nagas,” he added.
He asserted that it was the Biharis like JP who had first showed love and concern for Nagas, adding that it was now the turn for Nagas to acknowledge the community. He informed the media that Kumar was now travelling all over India to strengthen the Mahagathbandhan, a coalition of opposition parties that sought to take on BJP and its allies.
Asked if Kumar would be meeting opposition parties in Nagaland too to strengthen Mahagathbandhan, JDU Nagaland president Senchumo Lotha clarified that ALBC was apolitical and that JDU was just sponsoring it.
He said the Bihar chief minister’s visit would be purely non-political and he would not meet representative of any political party, adding that he would be returning the same day itself.
He however mentioned that an invitation to attend the conference would be extended to all political parties.
Meanwhile, in his speech, intending candidate for 5 Ghaspani II constituency Kitoho S Rotokha spoke on the contributions of JP to Naga society, claiming that the socialist leader had contributed hugely and worked towards the uplifting the State’s economy. He however lamented that Nagas had forgotten about his contributions.
He also recalled how JP was closely involved in Naga peace process by being a member of Peace Mission coordinated by NBCC and formed in the 1960s to mediate between underground groups and Government of India, adding that a peace agreement was also signed in 1964 at his initiative.
Further, speaking on the contribution of Biharis, he reminded Nagas that Rs 1 crore was contributed by Kumar to Nagaland in 2019 when the State faced a drought-like situation.
He claimed that the JDU leader was always concerned for the welfare Nagas. Hence, despite his party having no MLA in the State, Kumar was visiting Nagaland, he added.