TR Zeliang addressing PDA Election Campaign programme at Ngwalwa town on April 12.
Peren, April 12 (MExN): Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today said that Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) is not Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and BJP is not NDPP.
“While BJP may have its own ideologies and manifestoes, NDPP is a Regional Party formed to safeguard the interest of the Naga people,” he said while addressing People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) election campaign for its candidate Dr Chumben Murry for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls at Ngwalwa town in Peren district.
‘Today, NDPP is in alliance with BJP primarily for two reasons; for development and protection of our rights, and to bring the Indo-Naga political issue to its logical conclusion,’ Zeliang said.
He said that there is nothing wrong for a Regional Party like NDPP in having alliance with a National Party like BJP because “Whether Government of the past or Government of the day, a small State like Nagaland is dependent on the Central Party which is in the power.”
“We have 24 Nationalist Factions which is adversely affecting our economy,” he said with caution, “If we are not serious to unite and resolve this protracted Naga Political Issue, our posterity will never forgive us.”
As far as elected representatives are concerned, he said that they are united and came together, and established a Opposition-less Government for the sake of Naga Political problem and its early solution. “However, we must understand that 60 elected members alone cannot bring Naga solution unless we shed our differences and come together with one voice for one solution which should be acceptable with the spirit of inclusiveness,” he said.
Talking on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he said that “Nagaland is exempted through our common effort. Opposition and ruling along with all CSOs fought together against application of CAA in Nagaland and ultimately Parliament has amended the Act that CAA will not be applicable in Nagaland.”
On Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and Free Movement Regime (FMR), he said, “We have adopted resolution in the recently concluded Assembly Session against policies which goes against the interests of our people and in this regard, we will follow-up with the GoI for consideration of the resolution adopted by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.”
On Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, he said this was deliberated in the Assembly where the Nagaland BJP leaders were entrusted to meet the Assam CM and apprise him to reconsider the stand taken. TR stated that this was agreed by the State BJP leadership.
“We are consensus in such contentious issues because 60 MLAs are all Christians and we will continue to pursue such matter which confronts our society,” he said.
