Congress decries ‘vendetta politics’
Political temperatures flared in Nagaland on Wednesday as both the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) staged separate protests in Kohima and Dimapur, reacting to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) chargesheet in the National Herald case involving senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
While the Congress termed the charges as politically motivated and part of a wider vendetta by the BJP-led central government, the BJYM held a counter-protest rejecting allegations made by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misusing central agencies like the ED for political ends.
NPCC protests: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Wednesday joined the nationwide protest against filing of a chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case.
NPCC through its communications department informed that the party members joined the nationwide protest called by All India Congress Committee (AICC) against the “blatant misuse” of central agencies by BJP-led central government and “its relentless political vendetta against opposition voices.”
NPCC said protest was held at two locations—Congress Bhavan Kohima and another in Dimapur, organized by District Congress Committee (DCC) Dimapur.
Speaking at the protest in Kohima, Lok Sabha MP and NPCC president, S. Supongmeren Jamir, said that Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and KC Venugopal were raising their voices for the rights of minorities and OBCs. Jamir accused BJP government of trying to divert issues the issues raised by the party leaders and stop Congress from working for the people. However, he said the Congress party remained committed.
Also, speaking at the protest site, NPCC working president Khriedi Theunuo, alleged that ED was trying to shut down National Herald, a newspaper that shared the voice of the people. He also accused the Modi government of trying to silence Congress and other opposition voices.
Addressing the protest outside the office of additional commissioner of income tax in Dimapur, NPCC working president C. Apok Jamir, stated that “this was not just a protest but a mass movement to protect democracy and uphold the Constitution of India”. He claimed that RSS and BJP government have systematically eroded the principles of the Constitution.
Further, Jamir alleged that ED was being misused as a political tool to target Congress leaders without any proper evidence. He claimed that Congress party was being selectively targeted because it stood with the poor, the minorities, and the marginalized. NPCC stated that protests concluded peacefully, with renewed pledges to continue fighting for justice, democracy, and the people of India.
BJYM slams Cong allegations against Modi
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Nagaland state unit staged a peaceful protest outside BJYM Nagaland office, near Hotel Saramati, here on Wednesday against purported charges made by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was misusing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case.
Addressing a press conference at the BJYM Nagaland office, BJP Nagaland state unit general secretary, BJP Nagaland state unit co-chief spokesperson, Akum Pongen, rejected the purported charges made by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury against the Prime Minister and maintained that BJP had no involvement.
He said that BJP due to such allegations was protesting nationwide and would continue until justice was served. Pongen claimed that accusation was part of a conspiracy. He said that BJP would not remain silent until Congress leader or his party offered a public apology.
BJYM Nagaland state unit vice president, Sedevilie, noted that Congress workers were protesting against the ED charges.
He said that regardless of party or entity, they should not blindly make statements due to political differences. He said that the case should be left to the court of law and law enforcement agencies to carry out their work thoroughly. He questioned why Congress was blaming the Prime Minister or a political party and try to divert the issue politically.
He stated the Congress should provide evidence to substantiate their allegations made against the Prime Minister or the party. Sedevilie said as party workers, they cannot “swallow or overlook” such allegations against Prime Minister.
He further emphasized that Congress party should leave the matter to the discretion of the court and allow it to follow its own course without politicizing it. BJYM Nagaland state unit vice president stated that both the court and the ED work within the legal framework, adding that no one was above the law.
“When merit exists in the case, there should be a fair trial and judgment in accordance with the law, regardless of any party,” he asserted.