Kohima, Oct. 16 (EMN): A legislator of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) Kuzholuzo Nienu on Monday criticised the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government of misleading the Naga people with the ‘change is coming’ slogan. The former minister has asked the government to address more important issues confronting the Naga community: The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016, debate on the Scrapping of Article 377 by the Supreme Court and legalising gay sex; rising prices of essential commodities; the influx of illegal immigrants into Nagaland; the deteriorating road conditions, among others.
A press release from the MLA’s office Tuesday evening stated that Nienu had expected ‘simultaneous positive changes’ but the ‘changes’ had rather come in an ‘unfortunate manner.’ He said this during an address to the inaugural programme of the Phek Town Inter-Colony Tournament at Phek town.
The MLA was stated to have highlighted that ‘developmental activities have come to a standstill, no students’ scholarship, no old age pension, no teachers’ salary, roads everywhere in very deplorable conditions, bridges connecting towns and villages going down with no effort of the government to repair them.’
Nienu said that the chief minister failed to empower his legislators in charge of departments and instead ‘we have mere public having a higher status than our mandated leaders which is totally hilarious, self-deceiving and undermining the public mandate,’ the press release read.
“He said the government of the day fearing to take questions and trying its best to limit the questions put forth by the opposition during assembly session. The former minister pointed that the PDA’s much talked about campaign against doing away with ‘VIP culture’ only ‘increased with the numerous number of appointments as advisors and chairmen which subsequently burdened the state exchequer to the tune of crores.’
The press release quoted the MLA: “As a leader we should behave and act more matured and become a sight for sore eyes. We wake up to cheap paper wars everyday- leaders and parties issuing provocative statements even targeting individually. Instead of wasting precious time criticizing one another, I request the govt. of the day to rise up above petty politics and address the more important issues confronting the present Naga generation such as
The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016, debate on the Scrapping of Article 377 by the Supreme Court whereby gay sex has been legalized, rising price of essential commodities, the influx of IBIs to our land, the deteriorating road conditions and most importantly taking up of all round development in our state.”
On the parliamentary elections, he was optimistic that the tide would favour the NPF. He has urged his party’s men and women to be steadfast and patient.