NPF-Cong calls PDA ‘entertainment’ govt; takes devp. credit

Dimapur, April 8 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the Nagaland unit of the Indian National Congress have dubbed the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government an “entertainment” government. They claimed also that development works of the PDA “were all sanctioned and implemented during the last DAN III (Democratic Alliance of Nagaland).”
The media bureau of the Naga People’s Front issued updates on Monday offering details about the statements which were made during a recent election campaign.

The NPF’s legislature party leader TR Zeliang branded the one-year old Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-led (NDPP) PDA government an “entertainment government.” The coalition government’s achievements are in organizing ‘Hornbill Festival, mini Hornbill festivals’ and “shifting of Cabinet meeting to Kiphire district Hq once,” the opposition leader quipped.

“The PDA one-year book development achievement were all sanctioned and implemented during the last DAN III and with whatever amount is left has been pocketed in the name of undisclosed projects,” the press release quoted Zeliang as having alleged.

Addressing an election rally at Mon for Congress candidate KL Chishi, Zeliang said that one of the visible achievements of the PDA government was in “random transfer of officers who went against the NDPP in the last election as punishment posting and removal of employees from service with bias attitude.” In the words of the NPF’s press release quoting Zeliang: ‘The one-year PDA government has not succeeded in bringing any central road project from Delhi but yet continues to eat up its own flesh and thereby creating a huge deficit in the state exchequer.’

Zeliang wondered if the Naga people can expect transparency, accountability and good governance from the PDA. “It is expected that the PDA government deficit will land up into unmanageable position in the Finance department for random release of additionality,” (sic) he was stated as having told the gathering.

Speaking on the Citizenship Amendment Bill, Zeliang said that the BJP was ‘all out to pass the Bill and stone hard not to dilute the AFSPA if they come to power.’ He said that the Naga people need to understand the ‘dangerous plans of the BJP and vote for secular candidate so that the Acts do not destroy the identity and social fabric of the Nagas.’

Zeliang commented on two National People’s Party legislators joining the NDPP, withdrawal of the NPF and NPP candidates from the Aonglenden by-election. ‘Rio has blinded them with greed for power and wealth,’ Zeliang claimed.

The former chief minister then commented on the issue of seven NPF legislator from the eastern Naga areas who declared their support to the PDA government.

Zeliang wonder how elected leaders can change their minds in an overnight, the press release stated. ‘However, he said the 7 MLAs according to the law are still NPF MLAs and it is unfortunate that the law will soon take its own course of action towards the 7 rebels MLAs,’ the NPF statement added.

Our Kohima Correspondent adds:

A joint public rally by the 9th Kohima town assembly constituency Congress and the NPF was held at the PWD junction, on Monday in Kohima.

Opposition legislator lashed out at PDA for its stand that Article 371A can protect Naga from the Citizenship Bill. Saying that such statements were a “wrong assertion” and a “lie” on the part of the government, he criticised them of misleading the people.

With the BJP’s assurance to pass the Bill in Rajya Sabha if voted to power in the next tenure, Yitachu said, ‘irrespective of where they are, BJP only wants to finish the Northeast.’

Further, he said that the BJP will enforce the uniform civil code (UCC) if the party retained power. ‘If it happens, in which situation are they going to put us?’ He asked the people to cast their vote against any policy that is a threat to the rights of the Naga society or the tribal.

Clarifying that the NPF had selected a candidate for outer Manipur, which is in alliance with the BJP, ‘only for the cause of Nagaland political issue ongoing negotiation,’ he claimed that the party do not want to ‘disturb the ongoing peace settlement talks.’

The convener of the Congress’ campaign committee for Kohima, Khriedi Theunuo, spoke of likeminded people coming together to protect the interest of the people. It was on issue-based principles that the political parties have united, he asserted.

According to him there are issues that ‘Nagas cannot do it alone and those that need to be solved with support of the members of Parliament.’

The Congress leader gave credit to the INC for the ‘lapse’ of the Citizenship Bill in the Parliament. ‘It was because of the support of the Congress, the Bill could not be passed. Congress stood for the interest of the NE people,’ Theunuo asserted.

On the BJP’s manifesto to pass the uniform civil code, he remarked that “A day will be there when Nagas will have to call themselves Hindu.’

Surprisingly, employment was not mentioned in the BJP manifesto, released on April 8, he observed. It was all because the party failed to provide employment to youth during the party’s five year rule, he said.

Also, Sevotso Seyie, secretary of the NPF, said that the Congress party aims at ensuring youth employment and to ‘develop infrastructure.’