Political test for NPF, Opposition Cong

 

Dimapur | March 20 : Saturday’s 6-hour bandh called by the Opposition Congress against what was termed as failure of the NPF led DAN government has turned out to be a test of political credibility with both sides making an all out effort to score some brownie points. Whether people will agree or not but today’s bandh across Nagaland was more than just symbolic.
For both the NPF and the Opposition Congress it was a political test, almost like a mini snap poll. With the NPF led DAN government having just completed 2 years of its second term in office and the Opposition Congress with a new set of leaders eagerly looking at the next Assembly elections, the stakes were high and this was indicated by the intense public relation exercise with both parties claiming victory of sorts.
In an official press communiqué, the NPCC President I. Imkong termed the bandh as a “grand success”. According to the NPCC, it had received reports from the district headquarters indicating “100% success rate on average”. “The people of Nagaland had clearly indicated its resentment against the DAN Govt.’s anti-people, anti-poor policies”, the NPCC President sounded while adding that the “massive response extended by the public proved beyond doubt that the NPF-led DAN Govt. has lost its credibility and lost moral right to continue”.
Such was the importance attached to the bandh that the Opposition Congress even took a dig at the ruling party claiming that the state government employees had also given their “all out moral support”. “This has sent a clear message to the NPF-led DAN Govt. that, if the Govt. of the day cannot pay and give what its employees deserve, it is not worthy of enjoying power at the cost of its employees whose benefits directly affect the general public”, the NPCC President stated obviously referring to the failure to implement the 6th ROP by the present NPF led government.          
On the other hand, the ruling NPF also went on an overdrive to make sure that the impact of the bandh was minimal. Not surprisingly, NPF party spokesman, Abu Metha in a statement claimed that the six hour bandh called by the opposition Congress was a total failure.
As per report received from the party set up and also government agencies in all the districts, there was no response or only partial response from the people, he said and appreciated all section of the people for not responding to the bandh which he stated is illegal and undemocratic.
The NPF also appreciated the government functionaries for performing their duties and thereby allow the normal life to go on without any hindrance and untoward incident. Inspite of intimidation and threat by Congress in many part of the state, people have not allowed this alien bandh and suppressive nature of the Congress party to be successful, the NPF spokesman stated.
“This positive response by the people in rejecting the Congress call for bandh is a clear indication that the Naga people are now matured and will not allow alien culture and suppressive nature of the Congress to hold the people to ransom, he added.
Speaking to the Morung Express, Congress leader Medokul Sophie said the bandh was a big success in spite of efforts by the NPF to thwart the bandh. This, he said, has shown that the public are in full support of the Congress in raising some genuine points. “The public has shown its maturity by coming out in full support in enforcing the bandh”, the Congress leader said and expressed gratitude and appreciation to the public on behalf of the party.
On the other hand the Home Minister Imkong L Imchen called the Congress bandh as a gimmick and that the bandh was uncalled for pointing out that the Congress had no reason to call the bandh to disturb the tranquility of the public. The Minister further asserted that if there was any allegation, let them prove it. But they should not call bandh. It is a gimmick, he added.
Meanwhile the bandh called by the state Congress party passed peacefully without any untoward incident in the State Capital. Unlike in other parts of the state, the bandh was relaxed after 9 a.m. to enable observance of Martyrs’ Day held at the NSF Martyrs’ Park here. Till 9 a.m., the streets of the state capital wore a deserted look as vehicles chose to remain off the streets fearing confrontations with Congress party volunteers and shops opened shutters only after well past 9 a.m.

 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 20
The 6-hour all district headquarters ‘bandh’ call of the Congress on Saturday, March 20 was seen off amidst mixed reactions. In the Congress stronghold of Dimapur all business establishments including schools and government offices closed down with the shopkeepers, students and government employees taking the rather more intelligent option of remaining  indoors. However, ‘paan’ shops were still seen open in some neighbourhoods. Even NST buses played it safe by staying put in their garages, it was learned. 
Aside from sporadic incidences of arguments between ‘bandh’ enforcers and some individuals who took the risk of venturing out, the six-hour period passed off  smoothly. It was not devoid of some sprinklings of minor fireworks, nevertheless.
The bandh witnessed some uneasy moments earlier in the morning when police officers led by the Superintendent of Police of Dimapur came out to pacify the ‘bandh’ supporters who were adamant on going ahead with it no matter what. 
Two points – the street outside the Dimapur District Congress Committee’s  office and the New Field check-post were the  centres  of  activity today.
CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi and MLA from 2 Dimapur II AC, SI Jamir were seen personally monitoring party workers at these two crucial points.
A few not-so-lucky inter-state passenger buses and goods carriers were seen stranded in the Assam side of the New Field check-post. Other overnight vehicles, most probably, made it through well ahead of the beginning of the closure. 
Meanwhile the SP, Dimapur Liremo Lotha said the ‘bandh’ received a mixed response from the public with no report of untoward incidents. The SP said that contrary to the call of the ‘bandh’, movement of pedestrians and vehicles were allowed, though the main markets remained closed. Some business establishments opened as usual in Purana Bazaar, the SP said.  

 

Morung Express News
Mokokchung | March 20
The district administration and the police were caught in between  supporters of the NPF and the Congress during the  six-hour bandh in Mokokchung as NPF supporters openly confronted Congress volunteers and demanded that the shops be opened in the town. However, no untoward situation was reported during the  bandh hours.
But, to the amusement of the public of the town, the six-hour bandh was of a different kind, since Mokokchung is considered  a bastion of the Congress party, and any success of the bandh would mean a morale booster for the  opposition. And the NPF would not allow any such success. However, due to the timely intervention of the district administration and the police, confrontation  between  NPF and Congress  supporters  at the Indian Oil Depot area (Aongza Ward) in Mokokchung could be averted and the situation brought under control.
No wonder police and the  district administration kept a strict vigil on the bandh expecting the   unexpected. The Mokokchung  Village Council and the Khensa Village Council under whose village jurisdictions  the town falls,  floated advertisements in today’s edition of the Ao Milen (vernacular) declaring that they would not allow any bandh in their village areas. People feared the worst. The Mokokchung District Congress Committee gave a public announcement regarding the bandh at 7 pm on March 19, and hours later at about 11 pm.  And  the  district administration  gave  a public announcement asking the people to carry on their  normal activities.  There were some confrontations at the Indian Oil depot in Aongza Ward, and the Deputy Commissioner, the ADC, the SDPO and other officials rushed to the area and diffused the situation.
In the main town area – Police Point  – the district administration “supported by the NPF supporters asked the shops to open” (as the Congress party alleged); some did comply and opened their shops.  However, most chose to remain indoors and refused to open their shops until the bandh hour was over. 

Mkg DCC decries action of Mkg admn

The Mokokchung District Congress Committee (MDCC) today decried the action of the district administration in force-opening the shops in the town.
The MDCC president speaking with some media persons, said that the MDCC officials had a meeting with the district administration at 8 pm on March 19, that the MDCC would not force any shopkeepers to close their shops if they chose to open it; and at the same time, the district administration would not ask the closed shops to open if they chose to close it.
However, while alleging that the Mokokchung Dc acted in contrary to his words, the MDCC President I Nungkum Jamir asserted that the district administration along with the help of the police and the “NPF supporters” went about the town asking the shopkeepers to open their shops during the bandh hour. The MDCC alleged that the district administration even went to the extent that they would cancel the trade license of the shopkeepers if they did not open the shops. The MDCC officials said that some shopkeepers “under pressure” did open their shops” but there was no customer and therefore, asserted that the “bandh was a success”.
Nonetheless, the MDCC president expressed gratitude to the shopkeepers and the general public for heeding the call of the public and choosing not to open their shops. In this regard, the MDCC president said that the support of the general public is with the Congress party since the “public recognizes the ten point grievances highlighted by the congress with regard to his bandh”.
However, the NPF party officials, who strongly opposed the Congress bandh, asserted that the congress is simply trying to disturb the normal activities of the people and bring economic looses to the people. The Mokokchung NPF party president, R Lepden Longkumer asserted that the congress party has no proof with regard to its allegation to the DAN government.
Besides, the NPF party unit also asserted that the Congress bandh was a total failure in the town, as there was free movement of vehicles and ‘shops opened in the town’.
However, both the party did acknowledge and expressed gratitude to its supporters for passing the day without any untoward incidents.