Cong slams NDPP-BJP ‘alliance’

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 19 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today said that the “coming together of the NDPP and BJP to form an alliance and fight the upcoming assembly election as stated in some local dailies is a direct insult to the sentiments of the Christian communities.”  

“As BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is known for persecuting Christians, no Christians should vote to persecute Christians or in favour of NDPP-BJP alliance,” a press note from the NPCC media cell stated.  

It explained that the party had earlier “agreed to have certain understanding” with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in the coming election either in the manner of alliance or merger with INC, since the party “till the other day before Neiphiu Rio joined was very loud and clear that they will not join the communal forces and will stand by the secular ideologies.”   However, the Congress claimed that “in 15 years of NPF rule, Neiphiu Rio as Chief Minister for 11 years is responsible for bringing BJP in the State and nurturing its growth. He is also responsible for systematizing corruption, deficit and compromising with all evil activities in the state.”  

This, the NPCC stated, was “inherited by TR Zeliang and Dr Shürhozielie without any course correction and allowing the BJP to dictate every sphere of Government functioning.” Therefore, all three leaders and the NPF party are fully responsible for allowing communal party like the BJP to gain more foothold and destroy our traditions, culture and beliefs, it deduced.  

The people of Nagaland, the Congress said, have been presented with an opportunity to “reject the communal BJP and its comfort regional parties like NPF, NDPP and NPP by handing them a resounding defeat.”