Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 26 (EMN): Following the filing of nomination as Lok Sabha candidate of the Conrad Sangma led-National People’s Party (NPP) on March 25—the last day for filing of nomination— Hayithung (Bill Lotha) Tungoe said that he will fight for the cause of northeast people, particularly against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill of 2016.
Tungoe said that his candidacy was decided “by circumstances.” This was stated during a press briefing at Beth-Haram, in Kohima on the night of March 15. He said the intention was to ‘educate and sensitise’ the NE people about the dangers of Citizenship Bill.
Once the Bill is implemented, one can expect an “overwhelming number of Bangladeshis” in five to ten years, he claimed.
Remarkably, the NPP candidate went on to claim that Nagaland can expect a ‘Bangladeshi chief minister in ten years time’ if the Citizenship Bill is passed.
Tungoe also claimed that he will donate his “entire salary, allowances, and other incentives” for the welfare of the unemployed youth of Nagaland, if voted to power. Conversely, he announced to ‘distribute equally’ the total MP budget of INR 5 cr., among the twelve districts.
Describing himself as “humble, commoner and a people’s candidate,” Tungoe announced to distribute INR 40 lakh to each districts, while the remaining INR 20 lakh will be used for the welfare of young entrepreneurs and organic farmers.
Saying that the Naga political issue is very much in the party’s radar, Tungoe said that the issue “should have a defining moment.” The party is waiting for that moment to take it ‘forward to a great historic height,’ he claimed.
According to Tungoe, his election campaign will kick off at Wokha on March 27.
Commenting on the two NPP legislators who recently joined the NDPP, Ricky Ozukum, the general secretary of NPP Nagaland unit, said the party will issue an official statement in a day or two. The two members were “taken away by NDPP and broke the spirit of alliance,” Ozukum claimed.
