NPCC welcomes former Congress leaders

Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee members at the welcome programme of former Congress leaders at DCC office, Dimapur on March 8. (Photo Courtesy: NPCC)

Dimapur, March 8 (MExN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) organized a welcome programme of former Congress leaders today at DCC office, Dimapur.

Former leaders who rejoined included SI Jamir, Former President NPCC; Nillo Rengma, Ex Minister; Z Lohe, Ex Speaker; Joshua Sumi, Ex Deputy Speaker; Dako Phom, Ex MLA; Supongmeren Ex MLA; Vaprumu Demo, Ex GS NPCC and 14 other leaders of erstwhile Nagaland Congress.

Communication Department, NPCC in a press release stated K Therie, President NPCC while welcoming the former Congress leaders to the party, said Congress belongs to everyone and expressed hope that with the joining of former leaders, the party will put up a united fight to combating the BJP and its regional cohorts. He also expressed his gratitude to all those party workers who have suffered for 16 years in opposition while mentioning that more leaders are joining in the coming days.

Short speeches were delivered by SI Jamir, former President NPCC; Z Lohe, Ex Speaker NLA and Joshua Sumi, Ex Deputy Speaker NLA who expressed happiness in rejoining the party fold. They also appealed for past misunderstandings to be forgotten, as Congress will have to put up a united fight to protect secularism and rescue “our people by providing a viable alternative in the form of rejuvenated Congress.”

Dr SC Jamir in his exhortation highlighted challenges before the Naga people. He accused regional parties for bringing bankruptcy of Governance and commercialization of politics. He lamented that Nagas have been blinded by materialism and has allowed BJP to win an unprecedented 12 seats while other NE states barring Assam had managed to check growth of BJP.

Further, he opined that Naga society is in delirium and that NPF is already exhausted while NDPP is only a stop gap arrangement to fool the people. Dr Jamir asserted that Naga people should only be controlled by elected people and that Congress workers should have the courage to tell truth to the people and articulate very clearly that we can serve, help and lead the people. He termed today's programme is being held at an opportune time and that Congress today is solidified. He urged that dissents and internal bickering within the party be shunned. Maintaining that INC is a party with vision and clear ideology, he reasoned INC can never be uprooted, while challenging party workers to be active and propagate the programmes and policies of Congress.

Concluding remarks was given by Captain GK Zhimomi, General Secretary NPCC. “Today’s rejoining of those former leaders puts all past bitterness to rest,” he said, urging party leaders to look at the larger picture ahead. He expressed hope that Congress will progress to greater heights with a united stand to deliver hope to downtrodden and suppressed people of Nagaland.