Dr Chumben Murry, PDA candidate for the Nagaland Parliamentary seat to the Lok Sabha addressing an election rally in Jalukie, Peren on April 10. (Photo Courtesy: X)
Morung Express News
Jalukie | April 10
The PDA consensus candidate for the Nagaland Parliamentary seat to the Lok Sabha, Dr Chumben Murry today stated that people should pay no attention to the Hindu versus Christian minority rhetoric of the Congress. Addressing an election rally in Jalukie, Peren, on April 10, he said that not all Hindus are bad and that the community as a whole cannot be held accountable for the wrongdoings of a small fraction within it.
He said that the Congress candidate’s only strategy has been to exploit religious sentiments and branding the NDPP-BJP combine as anti-Christian. Contrary to the Congress rhetoric, he said that the Convenor of the North East Christian Forum happens to be a Christian BJP MLA from Assam, who is currently the Deputy Speaker of the Assam Assembly.
He said, “This is an exhibition of tolerance. Don't listen to the Congress.” In place of stoking religious sentiments, he said that the focus of the election should be on peace, development and progress of the society.
Hitting back at the Congress blaming the BJP-led government in Delhi for stalling the Indo-Naga political dialogue, he held that it was the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who first recognised the uniqueness of the Naga issue that eventually resulted in the Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM) and Agreed Position with the NNPGs. He said that the Nagas have to appreciate Vajpayee, reportedly, terming the bloodshed of the Indo-Naga political issue as “unnecessary” or uncalled for. Contrary to claims, he said that the NDPP has been for removal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act and that today, it has been partially repealed from the state.
He also took a dig at the Congress manifesto for the 2024 polls promising to solve the Indo-Naga political issue on the basis of a “preliminary agreement” dating to 2013-14. While he said that the Congress must have corrected what was assumed to be an error, he said that it reflected their ignorance. “At the first instance, it is an ignorance of the issue,” he said.
The General Secretary in charge of Communications, All India Congress Committee, Jairam Ramesh, at a press conference, in Dimapur on April 9, termed the NDPP “a washing machine of the BJP.” In his retort, Dr Murry acknowledged the Congress leader as an intellectual but one who tends to talk gibberish now and then.
As opposed to all the allegations hurled at the NDPP and its union with the BJP, Dr Murry said that the northeastern region witnessed increased footfalls by Union government Ministers like never before, with over 600 visits, in the last 5 years alone.
“During the visits, they have learned a lot about the region, the deficiencies of the region and the needs of the people. Help me win so that I can take your united voice to the Parliament,” he said.
Rio for sharing in India’s growth
Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, oozed confidence claiming that it was obvious the PDA consensus candidate will win with the backing of all the 60 MLAs and the voters. While stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will return to power in Delhi, he said that the purpose of the electioneering in Nagaland is to debunk misinformation against the PDA coalition and ensuring winning by a huge margin.
He said that the 60 MLAs joining hands is symbolic of mending the fragmentation in the Naga society, from the civil society organisations to the Naga Political Groups.
“We (NDPP) are regional in character, national in outlook with a global vision,” he said, while professing to never compromising with the Naga identity and rights.
He said that the Congress did not care for the Nagas and did not do anything to solve the Naga issue even when it had the means to do so. While he asserted that the Naga issue has to be resolved and peace returned, he said that the Government of India, under Modi, is working towards that.
Instead of bickering over petty issues on social media, he said, “We should be a partner in India's growth trajectory… We cannot afford to live in isolation on account of being a minority.”
TR says Cong failed
Deputy Chief Minister, TR Zeliang termed the PDA coalition as a conglomeration of different parties with their own identities but sharing similar development outlook. He rubbished as “cheap politics” the Congress branding the coalition anti-Christian.
While the idea of the NDPP allying with the BJP is for development, in contrast, he alleged the Congress of failing in this front.
According to him, the Congress could develop only 5 National Highways in 50 years in Nagaland. After the DAN coalition in 2003 and especially after Modi took the reins in 2014, he said that the total has increased to 12. He credited Vajpayee for fulfilling his 2003 pledge to expand the Dimapur-Kohima segment of NH 29 into a 4-lane. “In the ten years of the UPA, all they could achieve was stalling development projects initiated during the previous NDA government,” he said.
It was because of Modi's leadership, his political will and his comprehension of the Naga people’s voice that the Framework Agreement was signed, he said.
He added that the people should also shed differences and come together like the 60 legislators for the cause of the Naga issue.
