DIMAPUR, MAY 16 (MExN): The Rising People’s Party (RPP) has called out the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) to a live debate on their claim that the party stands for transparency, accountability, meritocracy and good governance.
“The NDPP’s tall claim is nothing short of hilarious with 99% of the people in Facebook and other social media platforms trolling the NDPP for their comical posturing,” a press release from the RPP said.
Corruption issue is no laughing matter, it said, and added that the RPP is “dead serious and would like to conduct the debate in a town hall/college auditorium in front of a live audience for which the NDPP is strongly urged to walk the talk and accept the proposal.”
Further, the RPP reiterated its appeal to the Government of India to impose President’s Rule in Nagaland State.
It claimed that “having failed on all fronts,” now the UDA coalition is “even unable to dispense the salaries of its 130,000 employees.” This includes the tens of thousands of work-charge employees whose salaries are pending for the last one and half years, the RPP said terming this as an “unprecedented situation.”
The RPP claimed that there is a “break-down of Constitutional machinery in the state.”
With regard to corruption, the RPP said that the “severe indictment” of the UDA coalition by the Government of India through NITI Aayog is “more than enough to settle the debate.” In 2021 the NITI Aayog labeled Nagaland as the worst performing state in the following 6 parameters – Poverty, Health, Affordable Energy, Sustainable Cities, Industry and Infrastructure, the RPP pointed out.
It further noted that in April 2022, the NITI Aayog again put Nagaland in the worst performing state category as per its State Energy and Climate Index (SECI) where Nagaland secured rank 33 out of 35 states and UTs.
“Under the circumstances, the dismissive claim of the NDPP that issues of corruption and non-disbursement of salaries are inconsequential is utterly disrespectful, immoral and shameful,” the RPP said. It stated that Article 365 is a compelling feature of the Indian Constitution, and President’s Rule is more than applicable in a “failed state such as ours.”
The RPP meanwhile asked the NDPP to contact them at risingpeoplesparty@gmail.com to work out the modalities for the debate.
