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Spokesperson of the AICC Gaurav Gogoi, (2nd from left), addressing the media during a press conference in Dimapur on Feb. 19.[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Feb. 19: The Indian National Congress (INC) has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for ‘marketing false hopes’ to the people of Nagaland. The spokesperson of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Gaurav Gogoi alleged during a press conference in Dimapur on Mon. Feb. 19 that the BJP had been ‘lying’ about various schemes since 2014.
Gogoi, a member of the Lok Sabha, remarked that the party was ‘good’ at ‘marketing, selling false hopes’ to people of Nagaland. He was addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhavan in the city.
According to him, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) was allowing the BJP “backdoor entry in the state.” He compared the former to the Greek’s mythological Trojan Horse for the latter to ‘destroy’ the state.
‘We are confident that Nagaland will be with the Congress as we are utilising our members to form a secular state—Congress is a party for everyone. With the message about ‘clean’ elections loud and clear, the Congress in every village is endorsing clean election with candidates who are dedicated and who will not disappear during the five years after election,’ the AICC spokesperson said in assurance. He opined that it was time for every community to stand with the objectives of ‘clean’ elections. The 2018 assembly election is about the church’s message and this election should be a time to connect with the people, the Congress leader said.
Gogoi responded also to queries about the Congress party’s fielding fewer number of candidates in the election. ‘Although the Congress has 18 targeted constituencies the party is active in all 60 constituencies with door to door campaign sharing the party’s vision for development as the strategy,’ he said in response.
Alleging that the BJP believes in money power ‘who are kind only towards the corporate,’ he said it was unlikely that the saffron party would fulfil any of its promises. He expressed confidence that Nagaland would abide by the message of ‘clean election’ and vote for a stable government.
Subrata Borah, secretary of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and the campaign’s official in charge of the National Students’ Union of India also addressed the conference. He denounced the BJP allegedly for ignoring the plight of the Northeast people settled in Delhi and being a ‘mute spectator’ against the discrimination faced by the people. He maintained that if the Congress wins seats in the election, the party will ensure that the students residing outside enjoy their basic rights.
The president of the Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee Shanaz Haque spoke at the conference too. The Congress leader slammed the BJP for overlooking the rights of women of the Northeast and for not formulating any legislation in the parliament for them.
