Kohima, February 17 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) said today that it would soon announce the name of its candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election. This was mentioned in a press release from convener of NPCC’s search committee and its former president, KV Pusa.
For this purpose, names have already been shortlisted, stated Pusa. He said several capable persons are willing to serve the people but the party has decided to field a suitable person who could work in the interest of Naga people. Welfare of the people topped the Congress agenda, he said.
Reacting to Naga Peoples Front’s (NPF) statement seeking Congress support during Lok Sabha election, the opposition Congress said it would soon announce the name of the party’s candidate who could work in the interest and aspiration of Naga people.
“Totally rejecting” support to an NPF candidate, Pusa said four MPs were sent to the parliament to speak for the welfare of the people but they had “betrayed the masses and had come back to the state politics and now Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio wanted to contest leaving the highest post which would be a total betrayal of the people.”
Rebutting reports of BJP’s assurance to Rio for an early settlement of the protracted Naga political problem, Pusa, also convenor of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the NPCC, said even during the time of then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vijpayee, there were several rounds of talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thiungaleng Muivah but no solution could be hammered out. He said the BJP’s assurance was only an “empty rhetoric to woo the innocent voters.” Towards this effort, observed Pusa, the PAC had already asked the Centre to expedite the peace process with renewed effort.
Pusa also stated that during the UPA tenure there has been considerable progress in the peace process. “There has been a maximum progress in the peace process. The ceasefire was signed during the Congress period and it would continue with the process so that acceptable and honorable solution could be hammered out,” he stated.
The Congress leader, referring to Rio “hobnobbing with the Hindu rightwing party BJP,” wondered “how Chief Minister, Rio could be with the communal party when 95% of the populace in Nagaland is Christian. Rio should keep in mind that India is a secular country so also Nagaland while he is trying to align with a communal party.”
Pusa said though Rio has said there was no high command in his party, “he is searching for a high command in New Delhi regularly meeting the top BJP leaders, including Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, Arun jaitely, Sushma Swaraj etc.”
