Imkong refutes allegations, demands for apology
Morung Express News
August 17
KOHIMA: The Nagaland Peoples’ Front (NPF) has expressed consternation over the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech. The ruling NPF party was quick to issue a statement of regret over what it observed was the Prime Minister’s non-inclusion of political, economic and developmental issues and problems of Nagaland in particular and the North East region in general during his Red Fort Independence Day speech.
Mentioning that the Centre was engaged in political talks with both factions of the NSCN, Press Secretary of the NPF, R Paphino, in his press communiqué stated that the ‘pin drop silence’ exhibited by Singh on the Indo-Naga issue in his marathon speech was, “a sheer manifestation of indifferent attitude and insincerity on the part of the United Progressive Alliance Government towards finding a concrete solution to the Naga political problem which remains elusive for more than half a century.”
The NPF has further stated that the ‘well-planned side lining’ of the Naga problem was due to the fact that the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee had earlier misled the UPA Government on the Naga political problem. The NPF has also indicted the NPCC of pressing for non-release of committed funds by the Central Government for development works meant for the people of Nagaland.
Reacting to the above mentioned allegations against the NPCC, Leader of Opposition I Imkong said over telephone that such a claim made by the NPF was a figment of its imagination. He further said that the NPF had no locus standi on the issue and challenged the ruling party to either come out with hard evidence to support its claim or apologize to the NPCC. Regarding the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech, the Congress veteran had to say that it was Singh’s responsibility to include matters pertaining to the North East in his address.
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