Dimapur, Jan. 30 (EMN): The BJP central leadership appears to have made it clear that there will be elections in Nagaland notwithstanding the appeals for rescheduling the polls made by Naga civil groups, and armed Naga political groups.
An IANS report on Tue. stated the Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju as saying that holding of elections is a constitutional process and the government is bound by the Constitution.
"We believe that peaceful election in Nagaland will facilitate the ongoing peace talks and strengthen our commitment," Rijiju tweeted.
"Holding of timely election is a constitutional process. Government is bound by the Constitution. The government of India attaches utmost importance to the long-pending Naga issue," the union minister said.
The report also cited the Nagaland BJP President, Visasolie Lhoungu as saying that the party’s state unit will "abide by the directives of the party high command on the assembly elections".
He said the BJP has placed Kheto Sema, the party vice president under suspension for signing the joint declaration of the political parties to defer the elections without consulting the BJP.
"We have deputed him to attend the all party meeting convened by the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hoho and Civil Organisations to defer the elections but he has signed the joint declaration on his own without consulting the party," the IANS reported quoted Lhoungu.
NPCC
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has asked the ‘NPF-BJP’ to stop fooling the Naga people. “NPCC condemns the treacherous game being played by the NPF and the BJP to put the state and its people under a spell of political uncertainty that is waiting to implode and tear the Naga society apart. People of Nagaland are observing how the NPF-BJP is attempting to sail in two boats by pretending to support the wishes of the people while openly planning for seat sharing and fight elections together.
“Towards the fag end of their 15 years in power, their greed to hold on to power at any cost is jeopardizing the future of our people. They have no respect for the people other than shedding crocodile tears to portray their sincerity. If they are really serious about finding solution to the Naga political problem, they should have worked with full sincerity other than paying lip service all through the years. Sending party representatives to attend the meeting called by civil societies while indulging in open election campaign and declaration of candidature makes a mockery of the entire exercise,” an NPCC statement read.
It claimed that the BJP-NPF leaders were determined to go ahead with elections without bothering about the voices of the people. “For BJP, capturing power in Nagaland will be a crowning achievement on the global stage to showcase its acceptability by the Christian majority voters of Nagaland. Their mission is aided by some of our people for the love of power and money not realizing that they are compromising the very foundation of our beliefs and way of life.
“Congress party assures the people of Nagaland that it will never allow BJP and its regional comfort party NPF to override the interest and aspirations of our people.”
In a separate statement National People’s Party (NPP), Nagaland unit stated that the reported sacking of a local BJP leader for signing a document declaring no political parties in Nagaland shall issue tickets or file nomination papers ‘has brought great confusion’ regarding the BJP’s true stance on ‘solution’.
“The suspension of two BJP executive members indicates that the BJP has not honoured the call of the public and that is tantamount to withdrawal from the historic agreement which was attended by 11 political parties, NSCN (IM), NNPGs consisting of 6 groups besides tribal Hohos and civil organisations.
“National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland State President has categorically stated in the meeting that representatives of national political parties like BJP or Congress cannot sign the agreement if they are not authorised by the respective party high command. Yet BJP signed and their representatives have been suspended.
“NPP wants a distinct answer from the CCNTHCO on ‘solution not election’by clarifying their position if some parties continue with the electioneering process. NPP fears the repetition of the 1998 political crisis, when some organizations boycotted the election and Congress Party formed the government. NPP is also ready to withhold the election process and the filing of the nominations if all the political parties come under one consensus of deferring the 13th Legislative Assembly Election in the State.
“NPP stands committed to the agreement signed; however, if the CCNTHCO fails to clarify the position of BJP on this issue before February 2, 2018, NPP will have no other option but to go ahead with the election process,” it warned.
The CCNTHCO has also asked the BJP to clarify its position. “The BJP cannot speak with forked tongue when even after signing the joint declaration, it put in place a most insidious game plan to scuttle the cry of solution before election when the party suspended its member for signing the historic declaration when he was authorised by none other than the State BJP president to sign on behalf of the party.
“This treacherous act will not go unchallenged. The CCNTHCO representing all the apex tribal hohos and mass based organisations would like to question whether the State BJP is committed to finding solution to the 7 decades old Naga political issue? It is apparent that the BJP is playing a dirty game to grab political power at the expense of Naga aspirations as amply exemplified by their slogan election for solution. The committee would like to publicly question whether the state BJP members are Nagas first and whether their allegiance is to their high command than finding solution to Naga problem,” read a statement from the CCNTHCO.
It demanded that the ‘State BJP’ revoke the suspension order and “aver to their declaration made on 29th January.”
The committee would be forced to ‘take necessary steps” if the BJP fails to accede to the demand and any aggravation of the peaceful situation in the state shall be solely borne by the state BJP, it stated.
“In the meantime, the total state-wide bandh slated for 1st Feb. is as scheduled. In a slight modification to our earlier circular, all educational institutions shall be closed with the other exemptions remaining the same, namely, the movement of Army & Paramilitary, police, district administration, media persons, and emergency medical services,” it informed.
