‘NPF, NPCC driven by frustration’
Hitting out at the demand of the opposition parties-NPF and Congress (NPCC)- for dismissal of the ruling NDPP-led PDA coalition, NDPP media and communication committee said such an action would tantamount to dismissal of a legally-mandated government which ,at this juncture would be unconstitutional, illegal and ultra vires.
Reacting to both NPF and NPCC, the NDPP reminded both that the present government was formed through the verdict of the people in 2018 that was clearly in favour of the PDA.
NDPP said the opposition parties exposed their “frustration” -NPF, for having to sit in the opposition after 15 years of ruling the state and the Congress not having even one elected member despite claiming to be the ‘grand old party.’
On the issue of law and order, NDPP reiterated that the situation in Nagaland presently was much better than what it used to be twenty years back, as its government was in touch with ground realities and was also more people-centric in its attitude and performance. Taking on the Congress for terming the present law and order situation as “difficult”, NDPP said it dreaded to imagine what would the Congress describe the law and order when the latter was in power in the 90s till the 2000s in Nagaland.
Hitting out at NPF for again trying to create a rift between the ruling PDA government and Nagaland governor, NDPP said its government was matured and responsible and not “so gullible” as to fall for the childish attempt of NPF to distort facts.
Further, NDPP said there was no bar on the governor in writing to the state government about his views and opinions and for the government to respond accordingly.
It also maintained that the governor’s letter to the chief minister can in no way be construed as souring of relationship between the two or of the governor having lost his trust on the government.
NDPP also said the ruling PDA coalition has never claimed that it was the champion over ongoing Naga political issue but only an active proponent for an early solution.
On the NPCC describing the ruling government as “headless chicken” in handling COVID-19 pandemic, NDPP said this was a “cheap, uncalled for and a huge insult” to frontline workers and all sections of society who are rendering services to contain the virus.
On the NPCC’s charge that NDPP and its ally the BJP had betrayed the people of Nagaland in 2018 when their candidates filed nominations despite calls for “Solution before election,” NDPP instead said Congress has a history of its own that needed no reminding. On the other hand, NDPP said in 2018 several political parties “whole heartedly” participated in the elections including the NPF, the “new found ally of the Congress” and the Congress itself.
NDPP said it was “conspicuously suspicious” when Congress did not mention that NPF was also a participant in the 2018 polls which only confirmed the NPF-Congress alliance.
NDPP said the opposition alliance has only one agenda- for the government to step down and had no roadmap to guide people out of the current pandemic but only to take advantage of the situation by continuously attacking the government with “baseless and malicious statements.”
Instead, NDPP called upon people including the two parties to come forward together and help the state recover from the COVID-19 both physically and economically.
Gov-PDA relationship cordial: BJP
BJP State unit has claimed that PDA enjoyed a cordial relationship with governor RN Ravi who, it claimed, was a gentleman of impeccable qualities and personality and had a highly distinguished career. Rubbishing allegations in this regard by NPF and NPCC, the party in a statement clarified that after the governor had expressed his views on a number of issues, the State government too explained its stand.
This was not to belittle the governor as the opposition parties had chosen to believe, but rather was like a discourse on the stated issues, which had served as an insight for all how best the government and people could do their respective parts in ensuring there was continuity of peace and development in the State, it added.
Reminding the opposition parties of the political instabilities in the past when they were in power, BJP asserted that there was no such instability now under the dynamic leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and deputy chief minister Y Patton. It asked the opposition parties to accept the reality that the PDA was a progressive Government and not retrogrades like them, adding that while NPF was ousted from power in March 2018, Congress had nil representation in the State Assembly as the popular mandate was in favour of the NDPP-BJP pre-poll alliance.
While there could be some frustrations or undying desire by these parties to come back to power by any means, BJP stated that “mollycoddling” the dignified stature of the governor for political brownie points from unsuspecting public was something new by all standards and totally unexpected.
The ruling coalition partner asked the opposition parties to understand that the PDA government had taken a stand to be an active facilitator on the Naga political issue for its early and honourable resolution. It reiterated that government was committed to facilitate an early resolution of the Indo-Naga political issue through a negotiated agreement that honoured the unique history and rights of the Nagas.
The party recollected out how NPF Legislative Party (NPFLP) had overcome political differences and joined other members of the 13th NLA in reconstitution of Joint Legislators Forum on Naga Political Issue on September 18, 2018 under the chairmanship of the Assembly speaker.
Therefore, BJP stressed that the ruling and opposition benches were united as one on the Naga political issue and hence NPCC’s allegation that the PDA government was the biggest obstacle in hammering out the final peace agreement was totally misplaced and disconnected from the ground reality.
Attributing Congress’ misconception to the party not having any representation in the 60-member Assembly, BJP accused the former of now trying to champion the Naga cause sans any contribution to the long-standing issue.
Further claiming that the State government had given a detailed reply with official facts and figures on other matters, the ruling party asked the opposition parties to desist from playing blame-games in the interest of Nagas, particularly during such extraordinary times when everyone should be united as one to face the challenges ahead.