Principal Correspondent
VISWEMA, APRIL 1
THE Opposition Congress today alleged that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) raises the Naga political issue (NPI) only to win the elections in the state.
Addressing an Lok Sabha election campaign for Congress candidate KV Pusa at his own home constituency in Viswema village, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) general secretary (admn) Medokul Sophie said NPF takes up the Naga political issue only to win the elections in the state, be it State Assembly or Parliamentary elections, but once elections are over it (NPI) is kept inside their (NPF) box.
He recalled that in 2003 elections, NPF had promised come to power assuring to bring solution to the vexed Naga issue within three months but already 11 years have gone by and they have not been able to do anything.
Asserting that Congress in the state has always been sincere towards having solution of Naga political issue, he clarified that the Naga political issue is being taken up by the learned leaders of Naga national workers. Nonetheless as politicians, it is our responsibility to work for the development and progress of the state and its people.
He also lambasted that during the 11 years, NPF has misruled the state by indulging in corruption and mismanagement of the state’s finances while the funds provided by the Congress-led UPA government for the welfare of the people not reached the grassroots.
He said besides the untold corrupt activities, the NPF-led DAN government has not been able to pay the salaries of its employees like SSA teachers, Work Charged employees, electrical field workers etc. because of which the government employees have been staging agitations. Sophie also highlighted that the NPCC has published a booklet “11 years of misrule under Neiphiu Rio” with all evidences.
He also said that Congress in Nagaland has never asked the Central government to stop providing funds to the state government, but the funds have been stopped because the NPF government has not been able to submit utilization certificate (U/C) for the huge amount of funds received from Centre.
Meanwhile, the NPCC general secretary confidently said that Congress-led UPA would form the government for the third time and has several welfare programs for the people. The biggest target will be providing 100 million jobs for the youths in the country, he said adding that Naga people should also have their share as we also have over 60000 educated unemployed youths in the state.
Sophie asserted that given the opportunity, Congress candidate KV Pusa would work for the welfare of the people in general unlike the Rio government uplifting only the NPF party men and women.
“If given a chance, Congress will bring equitable development for the state,” he said.
Kohima District Congress Committee (KDCC) president Prasielie Pienyü said that Rio is fooling the people by saying that he is going to Delhi to take bigger responsibility. Expressing that Nagaland gets more than Rs. 10,000 crore annually for developmental works, he said Rio has failed to develop the state with such huge amount of funds provided by the Central government and what can be expected from the Rs. 5 crore annual local area development fund as an MP.
He also lambasted that during the 11 years, Rio despite being from Kohima has failed to provide drinking water facility to the citizens of the capital town. He also said the capital district does not have a town hall, while the ongoing cultural hall construction is yet to be completed even after spending huge money for the last 11 years.
Pienyü also claimed that even if Rio goes to Delhi he will have to remain a mere MP as Congress-led UPA will come back to power at the Centre.
Former Speaker Z. Lohe said Rio is heading for Delhi as he is scared of his own creation of crisis and problems in Nagaland because in other places the MPs fight to become Chief Minister of the state, whereas in Rio wants to go to become a Union Minister.
He said Naga people are suffering because the leadership has been given to a businessman, who always wants to hike the estimates of any projects. Therefore, he said Pusa is the right person to represent the Naga people in the parliament.
INC candidate Northern Angami-II A/C & PCC member Kevise Suogotsu, former MLA Shaboh Konyak and INC candidate Southern Angami-I A/C Nagakul also spoke in favour of Pusa asking the villagers to consciously exercise their franchise.
