‘Bandh’ call a success all over the state: NPCC

 

Dimapur | March 20 : The state Congress party termed the enforcement of the ‘bandh’ a success in all the district headquarters. Addressing media persons at the District Congress Committee office in Dimapur after the closure was formally called-off, NPCC president I Imkong declared it was “hundred percent successful” inspite of the NPF trying to obstruct it.
The media briefing was attended by CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi, congress MLAs from Dimapur SI Jamir and KL Chishi aside from other party functionaries.
All in all, Imkong said that it was peaceful except for some minor altercations in Longleng where NCP and Congress workers were caught in a scuffle. In the process some NCP vehicles got damaged, he disclosed.
“The motive of the DAN coalition to thwart the ban has been unsuccessful” Imkong went on to claim.
He questioned why the government has chosen to target the ‘bandh’ call of the Congress when they have failed to check other such calls for ‘bandh’ in the past by other bodies.  
The NPCC president said today’s ‘bandh’ was a “symbolic agitation” intended to highlight the failures of the ruling DAN government in all fronts.
Earlier in the morning the CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi echoed a similar view while interacting with media persons at the DDCC office as the closure was in progress.
“This should send a message to the DAN to do away with corruption”, Imkong said.
Further, the NPCC president on behalf of the state Congress extended gratitude to the Naga Students Federation and the district administrations for their cooperation. He reiterated that the closure in Kohima was reduced to three hours to allow celebrations for ‘Martyrs Day’.
Prodded on the future actions of the state Congress, CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi said that the party will wait and watch. He though cautioned the government that if they do not take the appropriate steps, the Congress will be compelled to agitate in various platforms.
Justifying the latest move of the opposition Congress since the change of guard was affected within the party set up, Yepthomi had said earlier in the morning that the closure was a means of ventilating the failures and irregularities of the ruling DAN government. He said that the party could have called for a daylong closure but taking into consideration the interests of the public the ‘bandh’ was called for only six hours.
As far as the party is concerned it has given clear directives to its party workers to enforce the ‘bandh’ peacefully, he said.       
The opposition Congress have a number of grievances against the ruling DAN, central among them being the grant of 6 the Central ROP to state government employees and the alleged irregularities in the state school education department. Reaffirming the party’s earlier stand Yepthomi demanded early prosecution proceedings against the officials according to law.
The CLP leader alleged that the ruling DAN is even trying to hide documents crucial to investigation proceedings in regard with the scam in the education department.
The CLP leader went to add that they have enough proof and evidence which they can make public He challenged that if the government want more evidence, the Congress can lay it bare at any appropriate time.
On the 6th ROP issue Yepthomi said that the government should be able to convince the Centre to release the requisite fund.
He claimed that the Centre had released Rs 400 crores as ‘advance plan assistance’ but the state chief secretary refused to accept it. For what reasons it was not accepted was not specified.
He stated that in 2001, the state government under SC Jamir was able to implement the 5th pay Commission when the NDA was in power in the Centre with no major assistance from the Centre.
Bringing to light the plight of government employees, Yepthomi said that salaries for the medical department have not been paid for the month of February while for the social welfare department it has been pending since January 2010. Similar is the plight of work charged employees, he said.