Dimapur, May 31 (MExN): The Bharatiya Janata Party, Nagaland State Unit on May 31 expressed shock and surprise over the allegations made by one Pankaj Gupta against the state government.
In a video which went viral over the last few days, an individual identifying himself as Pankaj Gupta, “a doctor who has supposedly worked for the American and Italian Governments”, had made several allegations relating to the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nagaland.
While terming the allegation as ‘baseless’ and ‘uncalled for,’ the BJP Nagaland Unit said that it was “irresponsible on the part of the accuser who is obviously not in touch or in sync with the ground realities.”
Condemning the allegations that the Nagaland Government is playing with the lives of the people to get more fund from the Government of India, the BJP Nagaland said that it is an insult to the Naga people as a whole and to each and every frontline worker, NGO, CSO, State Government machinery etc which is involved in the fight against this pandemic.
It also questioned the authority with which authority the accuser claimed that the BJP will break ties with the PDA Government and the Chief Minister. “This assertion of the accuser has been taken seriously and he is hereby challenged to prove his claims, if there is any truth or credibility to it,” it said.
It also stated that a 3-member Judicial Inquiry Committee has been constituted to probe the Tuensang fiasco. The Committee has been tasked to submit its report within 15 days, it added.
As for the management of finances, the BJP Nagaland said that “details are available on the Government portals and the Departments concerned have been clarifying from time to time which seems to have been willfully ignored by the accuser or misinterpreted to suit his allegations.”
It also said that the War Room on COVID-19 is well secured and set up and all necessary activities are being carried from this centre to the extent possible.
Reacting to Pankaj’s statement that the Ministers and Advisors to the Chief Minister are “foolish”, the BJP Nagaland State Unit questioned his academic credentials and asked him to prove to the Naga people in what field he attained his doctorate along with all necessary details.
“He should also prove in what capacities he worked for the American and Italian Governments as proudly claimed by him,” it added.
In response to Pankaj’s challenge for an online debate, the BJP Nagaland doubted “whether it is worth the time and energy of the State Government to debate with some ill-informed person who seemingly has ulterior motives.”
Stating that baseless allegations do not merit a response, the BJP Nagaland said that its response was to set the issue straight, since “the accuser has exhibited an agenda to spark off public unrest with ill-intended assumptions and presumptions.”
