Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has reacted to the statement made by UDA spokespersons Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs minister Neiba Kronu and IT&C, Science & Technology and NRE adviser Mmhonlumo Kikon, by reiterating that chief minister Neiphiu Rio and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were solely responsible for not fulfilling the long-promised solution to the Naga political issue.
Reacting to NPCC that the July 16 resolution of the parliamentary core committee on Naga political issue was not taken to the prime minister of home minister, the two UDA spokespersons said the resolution was with the Centre and response was awaited. In this regard NPCC responded by saying that so far, there has been no information that the July 16 resolution was communicated to the Centre till the media carried the report of the August 19 press conference on August 20.
NPCC said people have been seriously believing in the assurances of the Prime Minister and the chief minister of early solution. NPCC said Congress party also welcomed the assurances and supported two official agreements– Framework Agreement and Agreed Position.
NPCC thus reminded NDPP–BJP that seven years have elapsed since the Prime Minister Modi had announced that Naga political issue was resolved. NPCC demanded to know what was resolved and why should anyone “go back from what they agreed and concluded?
NPCC said it is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to explain to the people but not the responsibility of any other persons. It also said people have been brainwashed by the BJP’s promise for early solution with “election for solution.”
NPCC said even presently BJP wants to hold election after abandoning the July 26 resolution by announcing a seat sharing arrangement with NDPP on July 26.
NPCC said the state BJP is part of the party ruling the centre and without the latter’s recommendation the Election Commission will never advance state election from 2023 to 2022-end.
On the issue of Rs. 365 crores granted to Nagaland by the then Prime Minister AB Vajpayee and allegation about the role and “conduct” of NPCC president (as the then finance minister of NPF in 2003-04) NPCC has demanded evidence if there was any misconduct on Therie’s part or face defamation case.
The party also alleged that Nagas were “not blind to the resorts, hotels and properties amassed by the chief minister” during the last several years and also the notices issued by the ED to a few of his close aides.
While pointing out the poor road conditions in the State, erratic power supply and late payment of salaries, that continue to haunt the state, NPCC said the state continues to reel under “misgovernance and corruption”. It also pointed out that the youths were suffering without jobs, while those self-employed were unable to sustain due to extortion. It also alleged that contractors were not receiving payments except to a close family of the CM.
NPCC further said that syndicates supported by unscrupulous elements were controlling the business activities thereby stifling the sincere Naga youth struggling to establish themselves in business. “Everything in Dimapur has syndicates who suck the blood of innocent Nagas,” NPCC asserted.
It also said that people knew how Congress legislators were lured and made to join NPF in the previous Assembly and how the NDPP and BJP had won the last elections by spending crores of rupees. NPCC accused NDPP and BJP of buying votes during the election and form the government to loot the State exchequer for five years without any development activities.
Meanwhile, NPCC said it was very disturbing and alarming that the BJP Nagaland and UDA government had not condemned the draft constitution of ‘Hindu Rashtra’, which declares India as a Hindu nation, under which Christians and Muslims would have no voting rights.
It said that the BJP-NDPP have also failed to condemn the recent release of convicted rapists in Gujarat. The party alleged that the BJP-NDPP have already become catalysts in the dilution of Nagas’ ethnic values, identity and faith.
While claiming that the people have seen how Hindu customs and rituals were being practiced by Nagas under the present regime, NPCC advised UDA that instead of pointing fingers, it would do well to stand up to the occasion and defend the interests of the people they represent.