Dimapur, Nov 13 (MExN): Confident of another stint in power, come the next elections, the NPF is ready to change the “face of Nagaland within the next 10 years beginning from 2003”. Why? The public in general is “very happy” due to “so many developmental works” like the “roads we constructed, the houses we built, the playfields we constructed, the market complexes, rest houses, tourist centers etc” according to Planning Minister and NPF President Dr Shurhozelie, delivering the Presidential Address at the Central Executive Committee meeting of the party at Kohima November 13.
“The public in general are very happy with this government because this government really represents their aspirations. We have completed so many projects and more are still in the pipeline. We hope we will be able to change the face of Nagaland within 10 years beginning from 2003” Dr Shurhozelie hoped, banking on the development bandwagon. “NPF-led DAN government has been doing very well in all fronts from the very beginning of the tenure till date. In fact we have taken up so many developmental works throughout the length and breadth of the state” he maintained. On the other hand the Opposition Congress is “unable to face the public” due to the ‘progress’ onslaught.
“The opposition party, unable to face the public, has been all the time trying to divert the minds of the people with wild allegations and mischievous propaganda. In doing so they have misinterpreted in their own way the stand of the state government” Dr Shurhozelie asserted. He cited the factional-killing-is-state-subject charge of the Congress: “The have recently alleged me and the Home Minister as saying that factional killing was a political and not law and order problem. Even the AICC General Secretary In-charge of Nagaland has indicated that for this reason there can be some kind of intervention from the Center” the Planning Minister reminded while reiterating his stand that he never asserted that it is not a law and order problem.
He stated that the Centre has also the responsibility to check factional clashes among the underground organizations for which the GoI feels the need for strengthening the ceasefire ground rules. “Murder, theft, riot etc are law and order subjects but killings among the UG factions do not come under law and order subject” he asserted. The senior NPF leader reminded that it was the government which placed its forces “in all strategic positions” and asked the UG factions to leave Zunheboto town within a time frame “but in the meantime the Zunheboto public very wisely and courageously came out to the street and intervened the situation which led the UGs to leave the town”.
“But why some people in Nagaland are trying to distort the facts by trying to interpret the Naga problem as law and order problem? Indeed, Nagaland is very peaceful because of the strong hand of the government in controlling the situation” he asserted.
The NPF leaders also took a shot at the Congress’ tirade on the DAN government promising to solve the Naga political issue: “Let them produce the evidence. Naga political problem is more than half a century old problem. Can any sensible person say that such prolonged problem can be solved within three months?”
With eyes clearly focused on the coming elections, Dr Shurhozelie garnered for electorate consensus: “We must look ahead with clear vision that only this party can represent the aspirations of the Naga people. Our adversaries may say so many lies to divert the minds of the public but people themselves are the best judges because they see the roads we constructed, the houses we built, the playfields we constructed, the market complexes, rest houses, tourist centers etc that we have constructed and many such other projects programs which we have taken up for the welfare of the people” he said.
