Indian National Congress (INC) President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not serious about solving the protracted Naga political issue, which is why it wasn’t included in its manifesto for this election.
Addressing a public election rally at Diphupar village public ground in Chümoukedima, Kharge said the much-awaited solution to the Naga issue is still not in sight despite the signing of ‘Framework Agreement’ on August 3, 2015, and a three-month deadline for concluding the negotiations in August 2019, when RN Ravi was the Governor of Nagaland.
“Not only did they say deadline fail, but on December 30, 2021, as a result of Oting killings on December 4, 2021, the Modi government continued to declare Nagaland as a disturbed area and extended AFSPA for 6 months,” he stated.
Alleging that the Modi government does not have the political will to settle the Naga issue, he accused the prime minister of deceiving the people of Nagaland and the country.
Kharge also accused the state government of indulging in delaying tactics though the civil societies, especially the Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF), had demanded implementation of a political solution.
He further stated that the people of Nagaland must stand against the attack on their culture and the politics of polarisation and hatred.
Kharge stated that if Congress is voted to power, it would implement; old age pension at 3,000 per month for Senior Citizens, 33% Reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies (ULB), Payment of 100% wages under MGNREGA to all job card holders, ensuring clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for all urban and rural areas of the state, provision of loans for higher education at 0% interest, compulsory sports training after HSLC (metric exam) to all youth, and a mini secretariat in Tuensang region to ensure holistic development of eastern Nagaland.
The Congress chief also lamented the incompletion of the state High Court building, while claiming that the BJP took advantage of the situation (scam) and overturned the government in an overnight operation”.
Kharge went on to claim that the funds allocated for new medical colleges in Kohima and Mon have been exhausted mysteriously even as people are waiting for its completion and admission to the colleges.
“For the last 20 years, NDPP, NPF and BJP together looted the state of Nagaland. It is high time now for the people of Nagaland to get justice and a government that actually works for the people,” he stated.
Speaking on the demand of the people from eastern Nagaland, he termed Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurance for a solution after the completion of the election as ‘empty promise’.
Kharge stated that if Congress is voted to power, it would implement; old age pension at 3,000 per month for Senior Citizens, 33% Reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies (ULB), Payment of 100% wages under MGNREGA to all job card holders, ensuring clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for all urban and rural areas of the state, provision of loans for higher education at 0% interest, compulsory sports training after HSLC (metric exam) to all youth, and a mini secretariat in Tuensang region to ensure holistic development of eastern Nagaland.
Kharge stated that if Congress is voted to power, it would implement; old age pension at 3,000 per month for Senior Citizens, 33% Reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies (ULB), Payment of 100% wages under MGNREGA to all job card holders, ensuring clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for all urban and rural areas of the state, provision of loans for higher education at 0% interest, compulsory sports training after HSLC (metric exam) to all youth, and a mini secretariat in Tuensang region to ensure holistic development of eastern Nagaland.