Dimapur, December 18 (MExN): In Nagaland, the representatives of the people in the Assembly, or the MLAs, have nothing to speak for the people. An often heard refrain, this view was echoed by K. Therie, President of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) while pointing to the 15-minute Assembly sessions as testament.
He was speaking on the occasion of the Pre-Christmas celebration of the District Congress Committee, Dimapur on December 18.
Although all 60 members belong to the ruling bench, there are divisions within the MLAs, Therie claimed while adding, “There is misunderstanding and confusion within the ruling.”
The NPCC President also pointed to the deteriorating roads and bridges and the collapsing infrastructure in the state and questioned the claims of the BJP that it stands for development.
The BJP, he argued, was in power in the centre as well as being one of the allies in the state government. However, funds of even Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) are not being released, he said and alleged that Rs. 14,500 crores of budget including CSS schemes which are outside the budget has “vanished into thin air”.
In this regard, the NPCC President sought to assure the gathering that given opportunity, the Congress Party will implement its manifesto “in letter and spirit”. “We will let the people acknowledge that we mean what we are saying in our manifesto,” he insisted.
Further stating that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to announce the dates for election in the state before Christmas and complete the election process before February 25, 2018, Therie argued against voting for the Hindutva party.
“These are the people who destroy the Churches, force reconvert the Christians and Muslims in the name of ghar-wapsi. They have stopped foreign contributions to mission schools, hospitals and other charity works,” Therie said.
In contrast, the Congress party stands by the principles of secularism, socialism and democracy, the NPCC President maintained. “If India fails to sustain secularism I am afraid India will disintegrate to fractions,” he maintained.
“I met voters living in the villages, I met voters living in Urban areas, I met youth voters and I met government employees; they all want CHANGE. No one has defended the present government,” Therie contended and viewed that there is no reason why the people would like to suffer by giving the incumbent another five years.
Touching on the politics of growing intolerance, the NPCC President opined that Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as President of the Indian National Congress had given a new hope to the party.
“Rahul has risen above volatile personal attacks, which has made him strong and fearless,” Therie stated and expressed confidence that the Gandhi scion “will not allow politics of fear but would provide politics of comfort”.
Extending Christmas wishes, the NPCC President called on the party workers to reach out to “our brother and sisters” in NPF and BJP. “As Rahul Gandhi has said, they are our brothers and sisters although we do not agree with them.”
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