DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 14 (MExN): Congress today promised an early solution to the protracted Naga political issue. Addressing an election rally at Mon town, Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi said United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would try to explore all avenues to find a settlement to the Naga issue at the earliest so that peace could be ushered in the State for all round development. He said UPA government was sincere to resolve the Naga political issue which would be acceptable and honourable to all sections of people.
On the issue of development, Rahul said enough funds had been pumped into the State but in the ground nothing has been done and that funds were pocketed by the people who are in power. He said the future of Naga people is bleak due to rampant corruption and bad governance by the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government. He said the condition of Naga people was pathetic due to bad governance.
The Congress Vice President promised all round equal development if voted to power adding that backward districts need more development. He said Rio had developed the backward areas only through papers and lip-services. He pointed out a glaring example when it took him 30 minutes to reach the venue of the rally at Mon from the helipad due to the bad road condition. He said enough funds have been sanctioned in the road sector. Rahul appealed to the people to vote for the Congress and see the changes it would bring to the people.
Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Tokheho Yepthomi said ten years of NPF-led DAN government has ruined the State. He said people of backward districts, particularly, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng and Mon were fooled by Rio and that nothing was done on the ground. He said there was wide gap between the haves and have-nots due to bad governance and favourtism by the present state government.
Yepthomi promised faster development in the backward districts through new pro-people initiatives. He assured better roads, employment opportunities and avenues for backward youths, better education and health system, total implementation of backward reservation policy, improvement of infrastructure development and to bring people closer. “There is no governance, but Rio has only ruled the State” the Congress leader said. He demanded to know from the State government where all the public funds had disappeared.
Former Chief Minister, Dr. S C Jamir also lashed out at the NPF led government and urged people to reject the corrupt and business government. Arunachal Chief Minister, Nabam Tuki who also spoke at the rally said among the 7 northeastern states Nagaland was the least developed State due to rampant corruption. He said Nagaland was in pathetic condition and that people have not benefitted the fruits of the Union Government.
Tuki said his government had taken initiatives on road sector and that road connection reached upto the Nagaland border but still on Nagaland side state government has not taken any initiative which clearly reflected corruption and bad governance. He appealed to the people to vote for the Congress in order to bring peace, progress and prosperity.
Later Rahul also addressed a rally at Tuensang where around ten thousand people attended. Rahul promised of all round development with special focus on the backward districts. Rahul also said that a Congress government will be fair to Eastern Nagaland. He also called on people to work for their future and to ensure that the money comes to them. Saying that he was very fond of Nagaland, Rahul said he was proud of Naga culture and history and what Naga people were capable of achieving.
