‘Governance last word in Nagaland’

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 25
 

On the last day of campaigning for Nagaland polls, the Indian National Congress (INC) today remarked that governance was the last word in Nagaland under the present dispensation of power in the state.  

All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary i/c Nagaland, Dr. Jayakumar spoke with The Morung Express in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of a press conference on Sunday few hours before the deadline for the campaigning ended.  

Pointing to the 15-minute Assembly proceedings in the State, he remarked that governance was the last word in Nagaland where Assembly proceedings had become a mere formality to complete constitutional obligations. He said such culture should end by electing right kind of candidates for good government and governance.  

Stating that the citizens aspired for effective and corrupt free governance, Dr. Jayakumar claimed that the people believed only the Congress could fulfil their aspirations. “That is why people like KK Sema, a former bureaucrat who has been championing corrupt-free government had chosen Congress to be the best platform for a corrupt free administration,” he added.  

Without delving in depth, the AICC leader also hinted at the possibility of a post-poll alliance with the ruling Naga People's Front. Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Therie at a press conference on February 12 said that the congress has been in talks with the NPF chief Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu to secure an understanding “to tacitly support” one another.  

Dr. Jayakumar meanwhile cautioned the people of the state that a NDPP-BJP alliance victory in “would be a threat for Nagaland.”  

To buttress his statement, Dr. Jayakumar cited alleged “persecution” of Christians in BJP-ruled states and that the party has been following polarization politics. He also charged the RSS for having an agenda to make the country a “Hindu Rashtra” and nominating its ‘pracharaks’ to head their political wings in NE states. They had succeeded in Assam and through backdoor in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, Dr. Jayakumar claimed.  

“They will do anything and everything to win in Nagaland to boost their goal that their ideology in the state” the AICC leader further alleged.   Maintaining that political power was the strongest in a democratic country, he said such power should not slip into the hands of undemocratic forces. "This election provided ample opportunity for the people of Nagaland to bring change."  

Earlier, at the press conference, Dr. Jayakumar criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Tuensang visit terming his speech and development promises as no more than “bluff”. “Modi talking about transparency is unacceptable when he does not practice it,” he said. On the Framework Agreement, he held that Modi does not have a timeframe for resolving the Naga issue as “he (Modi) keeps on talking and does nothing in reality.”