Congress National Spokesperson and Media Coordinator for NER, Mathew Antony, along with Yanger Longkumer, chairperson, NPCC communications department, and Andrew Humtsoe, media coordinator, NPCC addressing the media in Dimapur on March 26. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 26
Congress National Spokesperson and Media Coordinator for North Eastern Region, Mathew Antony today contended that the Prime Minister, “Modi himself, is alleged to be corrupt and dictatorial and fearful of the fact that Modi and the BJP is going out of power.”
Maintaining that India’s grand old party has been in combat against the BJP government for the last ten years consistently, the advocate declared it was now time for the Congress to bring awareness to the entire people of the country of how the Narendra Modi led BJP government was the “most corrupt,” that rolled out injustices, one after another to the people of India.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson had travelled to Wokha district and the state’s capital before arriving in Dimapur, last evening. Addressing media persons, Antony said the reason behind condemning Modi and his government was a way of “voicing out for the people of the country.”
Slamming the prime minister for being ‘personally corrupted,’ he cited instances of Modi abusing the entire system of power, extorting money, oppressing democracy and his opponent “in his greed to stay in power.”
He said corruption was not money alone, but there were a lot of ‘daring corruptions’ done by Modi directly. “And that’s exactly what we are alleging of,” he remarked.
The national leader brought to the media’s attention on the ‘10 long years of injustice’ meted out to the people of India on all fronts, especially economically, socially, and politically.
Raising concern over the persecution of minority in India, Antony cited the right extreme wings in the North Eastern region have been “aggressively escalating the minority persecution in the area.” Condemning the Assam Healing Prevention Act 2024, he alleged it was the most advanced step intended against Christian minorities in the North East.
As per records, 386 religious institutions have been vandalized, 70000 people are displaced from their homes. FCRA approval has been cancelled for many Christian institutions across the North East which has been affecting their existence.
The recent actions of the BJP and its state governments are shaking the confidence of the entire ST community of their ST status and reservations which are frequently being challenged to be excluded due to them being the Christian minority, Antony pointed out.
Condemning such atrocities, Antony claimed it was only the Congress who can be trusted to preserve one’s “ethnic identity and culture,” recalling how the UPA and the Congress respected the “very culture of regarding the diversity, ethnicity and indigenous history of the tribals” from the time of independence by giving them special provisions through the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.
He cautioned that the Manipur conflict for the last nine months was a warning to the entire North East, even as he took a jibe at the prime minister, who “has no time for Manipur, nor any interest to bring peace,” yet has been travelling across the world for election campaigns. While 30 lakh of government jobs under the government of India lay vacant, he questioned the enormous rate of unemployment among the youths of the country.
Condemning the BJP led government for destroying the independence of the judiciary, the election commission, the central investigative agencies and the independence of the media, he raised concern over the government’s growing fascism and dictatorial approach, where a non co-operation with the government will end up with “revenge and vengeance amounting to raids, jail terms and much more punitive ways.”
Calling upon the people of Nagaland and India, Antony asserted this was the time for them to raise their voice and choose their representatives and the Congress party as their choice inorder to have a “balanced, peaceful and a progressive country.”
The difference between the two parties, he maintained was that Congress takes feedback from the people and delivers as a service to the people of the country.
When this newspaper questioned as to who was responsible for splitting the opposition INDIA bloc, Antony said that despite having different political views, the INDIA alliance was formed to save the country against “the misrule, the fascism and abuse of law by the BJP.” Regardless of many states being opposing heads to each other, the national leader said they have put their differences aside, “making a sacrifice to come together to fight a common enemy which is working against the interest of the state.”
On the big contenders that recently walked out, Antony maintained some were ‘political opportunist’ who moves wherever the power lies. However, he expressed optimism that post elections, they can still stitch alliances. On being asked the probability of losing this election, Antony exuded confidence, “We are forming the next government.”
Notwithstanding all the “desperate measures and extreme political acts,” Antony contended that it only increases their confidence and reassures the Indian National Congress and the INDIA alliance of an “assured victory given by the people of India in 2024.”
During the press briefing, the national spokesperson along with Yanger Longkumer, chairperson, communications department, NPCC and Andrew Humstoe, media coordinator held a minute-silence in respect of the passing of the party’s former Chairperson, Media Communications and Secretary, Wezote Kreo
