NPCC President, S Supongmeren Jamir and others at the press conference in the Congress Bhavan, Kohima, on March 18. (Morung Photo)
Eyeing Gandhi siblings and Kharge hitting campaign trail in Nagaland
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 18
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) is banking on the electorates to vote for the Congress candidate for the Nagaland Parliamentary seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“We are really dedicated to fight for the rights of our state and for that matter, the NPCC has high hope on our voters,” said the NPCC President S Supongmeren Jamir, the candidate.
Addressing a press conference here, today, at Congress Bhavan, Jamir hoped that the voters of Nagaland will favour secularism.
He said that the Nagas should show to the BJP-led government in Delhi that “we always stand for the truth and we always stand for unity.” “Voters of the state are wiser enough. Now, it is up to the voters whether they will give us the opportunity to fight for the common cause of our state,” he said.
The Congress’ poll campaign in Nagaland will likely take off, on March 26, with as many as 31 “star campaigners” expected to hit the campaign trail.
According to Jamir, the NPCC will be requesting Rahul Gandhi, AICC President Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi to campaign in Nagaland.
‘BJP govt put on hold Naga political issue’
Jamir held the BJP government of putting on hold the Naga political issue with 2 agreements — one with the NSCN (IM) and one with the NNPGs.
In the name of the Naga political issue, he said that the BJP government is promoting “opposition-less government.” When there is no opposition in the assembly, who will speak for the people, Naga political issue and development of the state, he questioned.
While stating that the 60 elected representatives are under the command of the BJP, he termed the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio as caught in a difficult situation. “Once he tries to move out, his boat will also sink,” he claimed.
“The NPCC feel that it is high time we have to show our sentiment, we have to fight for secularism, we have to fight for equality and we have to serve the interest of the minority in the state,” Jamir said.
For that matter, he said, one has to be there in the Parliament and speak on behalf of the citizens of the state.
On the development front, the government talks of delivering on employment and entrepreneurship, but held that it has not reached down to the grassroots.
On ENPO demand
He termed the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) demand and its resolution to boycott the Parliamentary and Assembly elections as genuine. “Their demand is very genuine and they have reason to fight,” he said, while adding that the BJP-led government is again playing with “our ENPO brothers and sisters.” He said that by resorting to delay tactics, the Central government is conveying a wrong signal to the people. “But we still hope that they will use their better wisdom for the solution,” he added.
