Oken Jeet Sandham
The press people in the State capital, Kohima were fully prepared – mentally and physically - to attend the press conference of National BJP President JP Nadda to be held at the party’s Head Office, Kohima on December 15, 2020. We had many in our minds to ask him for the State and the region and also the party’s mission in the region. Nadda has been credited for the party’s resounding victory in the recently held general elections in Bihar.
We are, however, surprised when we get information that Nadda’s proposed visit to the State has been postponed. State BJP chief Temjen Imna, in a statement on December 11, said the postponement was done on technical reasons.
It is largely suspected that the postponement could be because of the attacks on his convoys in West Bengal on December 10, 2020. The torrent of stones came to his motorcades when they were passing through Sirakal near Diamond Harbor in 24 Southern Pargana adjoining Kolkata. He was going to Diamond Harbor to address a BJP meeting. BJP alleged TMC party men for the attacks on their motorcades. TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, insinuated the attack was staged.
Nadda has undertaken the nationwide tour with an eye to the 2024 general elections in the country. While giving fresh impetus to the party activities, he is going to give more emphasis on the places where the party candidates failed to win in the last general elections in 2019.
It is an opportune time for Nagaland in general and BJP in particular that the BJP national president is visiting the State when its party is at the helms of affairs at the Center.
First, one should know that most of the North Eastern States are ruled by BJP while some by NDA allies. Therefore, Nadda can play crucial role in pushing the moribund Naga peace process to reach a logical conclusion. His service should be used towards finding a solution to the Naga issue.
Second, although it is a welcome sign that the State gets a sanction of a new Medical college to be constructed in Mon district, it is still struggling for decades to complete the construction of its Medical College in Kohima. State Health and Family Welfare Minister, S Pangnyu Phom, who is also from BJP, said completion of construction of the Medical College, would be delayed due to the Covid pandemic. Nadda as former Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in the previous Modi-1 Government knows very well about the State Medical College construction history. There are six Cabinet Ministers including Deputy Chief Minister from BJP in the NDPP-BJP-led PDA government in Nagaland. They can pursue the matter with Nadda who knows nitty-gritty of the College issue and complete it as early as possible so that the people of the State would have their heads held high.
If there is any problem that the State is unable to advance in the construction, they should come up with details or if there is anything that they have to pursue with the BJP-led NDA Government at the Center, then this is the right time. Otherwise, we are going to miss the bus. It is now or never.
There couldn’t be a better time than now to complete the construction of the Medical College and finding a solution to the Naga issue. Hope, Nadda’s visit to Nagaland is announced soon that will not be postponed again.
