DIMAPUR, FEB 19 (MExN): Under attack from the Opposition Congress on allegations that he had violated the election model code of conduct, Dr TM Lotha, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Excise in the DAN government has come out strongly against what he termed as “childish, hasty and blind misinformation” of the State Congress party. In a refutation, Dr Lotha stated that he was completely taken aback over the letter written to the Election Commission of India by the NPCC asking for his removal.
Pointing out that he was very much aware of the Election Model Code of Conduct and also the ensuing bye-elections in two constituencies to be held on March 8 next, Dr Lotha stated that it was unfortunate that his participation as Chief Guest in the 4th Annual General Meeting of the Nagaland Branch of the Indian Dental Association and his subsequent sharing of the Government contemplating to give at least one dentist each to all the District Hospitals and also all the CHCs in the State was being misconstrued by the NPCC as “Violation of Election Model Code of Conduct.”
“It is a routine affair of the Association and has no connection whatsoever with the ensuing by-elections in the State. In fact, I have never mentioned about the BJP, to which I belong, throughout my speech either nor did I ask to vote for the BJP or for that matter the ruling DAN coalition Government as it had no connection with the by-polls”, Dr Lotha maintained.
While terming the reaction by the NPCC to his speech as uncalled for, Dr Lotha stated that the Congress was unlikely to change “their old tricks of criticizing other parties”. I once again caution the electorates to be ever guarded this time as the Congress will continue to use the same old tricks to criticize the BJP, NPF and the DAN Government as they have no other agenda for the people as usual”.
Dr Lotha stated that the Congress reaction only showed that “they are panicky and fear psychosis has already crept into the rank and file of the party (Congress) as they had already been rejected by the people and they are going to be rejected in the coming bye elections too”.
The Minister also termed as unfortunate that the NPCC had blindly targeted him for violating the Election Model Code of Conduct while forgetting that their Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh promised a slew of schemes during his election campaign at Tamenglong in Manipur on February 18, 2007 for the third phase of the poll be held on February 23, 2007.
“I quote what had appeared in local papers of his promises: “Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Sunday promised a slew of schemes for development of Tamenglong district in particular and Manipur in general”. The PM also promised a chain of developmental projects, including the controversial multi-purpose Tipaimukh dam and Loktak down stream; Dr Lotha alleged quoting a news-report appearing in today’s edition.
“Therefore, I can only ask my friends in the Congress party in Nagaland to clean their eyes first before attempting to clean others. Otherwise such childish, hasty and blind misinformation will only do more harm to their position.
