Alleges NPF and DPP to be mere political wings of BJP
Kohima, June 16 (EMN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today strongly criticised the NPF-led State government for ‘contemplating to rewrite’ the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 stating that the act could be amended, but cannot be discarded.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhavan, NPCC president K Therie referred to the statement made by the chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu during the laying of foundation for Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) building, saying it was not clear what the chief minister had meant by “rewrite” because constitutional Acts can only be amended or deleted.While admitting that Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are needed to mend local habitats, he said the NPCC also strongly oppose the proposed formation of advisory committees by the NPF. He alleged that the NPF government had, since 2010, set up advisory committees and what they have done was ‘loot tax and urban funds’ that were sent by the Central government while not a single town could be seen developed or nurtured.
The PCC was of the view that those advisory committees did not have any authority since they were only party nominees, not public nominees. “Advisory committee is without constitutional authority and it will be in violation of the Nagaland Municipal Act and the constitution. We shall oppose and if necessary, we shall turn to legal fraternity to see that it does not happen. We have efficient administrators who can look after and will do more justice,” Therie stated.
Also irked by the recent statement made by Liezietsu at the NPF Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting that ‘Congress era is over,’ Therie retorted that the Congress was amused that an ‘elderly politician’ would say such a thing. He said it was too early for Liezietsu to be saying that because Congress is the only opposition party against ‘all the BJP political wings’ in the State.
Therie also scoffed at NPF stating that it is heading for a crash as its vote bank will be divided into three parts- NPF, BJP and the newly launched Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Applying simple political mathematics, he said if there is division in NPF vote bank, the remaining would go to Congress including anti-incumbency and anti-BJP votes. Congress will come back, he assured while remarking that the people of Nagaland are not happy with the BJP and the NPF-led DAN government. He added that NPF and DPP were mere political wings of the BJP political wing.
Stating he is confident that people are determined for change, the State Congress chief maintained that the fall of the NPF-led DAN was likely to be facing a situation like the proverbial ‘Humpty Dumpty’ in the forthcoming assembly elections.
On Nagaland Congress (NC), which was formed by Congress dissidents, he said political parties are founded on ideologies, principles and objectives, but these features were not very clear about the NC. Therie said it was time for Nagas to identify issues and vote on manifestoes and not on candidates or money.
NPCC also censured the NPF CEC’s recent resolution to urge the State government to take up with the Central government to desist from imposing restrictions on “dietary habits of the people”, lashing out that the CEC lacked guts to even name ‘beef’ and ‘cow’ while referring to the Centre’s recent order on ban of cattle slaughter, for fear of displeasing the ‘BJP and other people’.
Therie reminded that this was one of the main founding issues in the 1929 Naga Hills Memorandum where “our ancestors” had clearly put forward that due to differences in religion, culture, customs and food habits, Nagas cannot be together under India and therefore they demanded to be free. “That is what we are struggling for till today,” he said, adding if the people’s food habit is banned and the government representing them is scared to say a word against that, then those representatives need to be discarded from the responsibility of representing the people of Nagaland.
On MKR Pillai’s case wherein the Income Tax department made a bust on his disproportionate assets, Therie said he was shocked and that he did not believe a police promotee can own thousands of crores of wealth. “If the government wants to come out clean, then a neutral investigation should be made,” he asserted. He also maintained that the Governor should write to the central government for investigation into the matter.
Therie said the termination of Pillai’s contract as a PHQ consultant provides no relief to the people and that he is sure even those in the police force would not be satisfied. Expressing dismay that there were many “Naga benamis” claiming ownership of Pillai’s businesses, he stressed that “this type” of corruption should not be ignored and further assured that the Congress will take up the issue once it gathered “enough concrete stand.” Towards this end, he said the NPF led state government intentionally stalled in setting up Lokayukta in Nagaland to avoid ‘these type of things’. Given the opportunity, we will set up Lokayukta within a 100 days’ time.
