Dimapur, Sept 14 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) is convinced that no matter what claim, the BJP would continue to be under the shadow of the NPF even in the coming state elections. This is more so since the BJP with its “Hindutva” policy would be hapless in a Christian state like Nagaland, the Congress asserted. Also, rather than talk about the Naga issue only when visiting the state, BJP leaders should raise the issue in Parliament, the Congress challenges.
The state Congress was responding to “certain issues” raised by BJP National Spokesman and Election In-charge of Nagaland Rajiv Pratap Rudy accusing the “Congress of having sinister designs in the indefinite extension of truce with NSCN-IM terming it as a strategy to gain political mileage ahead ...”
“The BJP having its policy on ‘Hindutva’ will always remain a helpless party in a Christian-dominated State and the party will have to rely on NPF as ‘shadow partner’ even in the coming State General Election 2008” stated a response from Vitsorel Lcho of the NPCC’s media cell.
The NPCC reminded the BJP that after the Congress-led UPA Center came into power, the Indo-Naga talks were elevated to that of ministerial-level and now the ceasefire has been extended for an indefinite period subject to progress in talks. “As both the negotiating parties have agreed to the indefinite extension of the ceasefire, the BJP should not consider it to be a Congress ploy to gain political mileage but take it as an opportunity to find solution to the vexed Indo-Naga political problem” the Congress stated.
The party explained that the indefinite extension of ceasefire between the GoI and the NSCN-IM has nothing to do with the Congress. The allegations that the Congress is trying to gain political mileage for the state general election is unjustifiable as “BJP is trying to malign the initiatives of the Congress in trying to find an amicable and lasting solution acceptable to all section of the Naga people.”
BJP national leaders like Rudy should refrain from trying to confuse the minds of the people by making false assurances to solve the Naga issue, the party advised with the reminder that “if the BJP leaders are really concerned over the issue, they should not only talk of the Naga political issue during their convenient time of visiting the State but they should raise the issue even in the Parliament.”
The Congress reminded that the Rs. 1050 crore package assured by the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for the State has only been a “lips service” with no fund sanctioned to fulfill the assurance. “The Congress-led UPA Government has been gracious enough to grant uninterrupted funds to carry forward developmental activities without any hindrances in the State” NPCC added.
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