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Ramdas Athawale (left) addressing journalists in Kohima on Monday.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 18 (EMN): Union minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale will launch the Nagaland unit of the Republican Party of India (RPI) at the Agri Expo site in Dimapur on Feb. 19. Athawale is the president of RPI.
Addressing a press conference at the Raj Bhavan on Monday evening, the union minister said that the party will not be contesting in the coming Lok Sabha elections but will be supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party.
According to him, “many people” were joining the RPI now because the party follows the philosophy and principles of the iconic Dr. BR Ambedkar. He said the party “fully supports the tribal people, upliftment (sic) of the tribal community, development of the villages, and development of irrigation and power facilities.”
When asked about the party’s stand on the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill of 2016, he replied: “We can think about the sentiments of the NE people.” Being a member of the NDA, Athawale said, he can try to suggest if certain amendments can be done.
Keeping in view widespread opposition from the NE states, the union minister felt that the government of India should “re-consider” and “re-think” the Bill. “Because the sentiments of the NE people are also important.”
Out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats from the Northeast, he expressed hope that the BJP will win 20-21 seats.
