DIMAPUR, MARCH 12 (MExN): The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) today responded to the Naga People’s Front’s (NPF) statement slamming the Progressive Democratic Alliance’s (PDA) achievement announcements made recently.
A press release from the NDPP stated that the NPF is yet to grasp and accept the reality that the mandate of the people of Nagaland is with the PDA even after two years.
On road and infrastructure, the NDPP stated that there have been “huge improvements in the condition of the roads and other infrastructure in the last two tears after the PDA government has taken over.” “It is most incongruous that the NPF should talk of bad roads when, during its regime, had constructed wafer-thin asphalt roads in the State capital; and during monsoon, video clips of the asphalt being washed away went viral, much to the chagrin of the populace,” it said.
It further asked the opposition to “open their eyes to the various people-centric programs and activities the PDA government has undertaken.”
Regarding the Naga political issue and on matters involving a human rights activist of the state, the NDPP expressed shock that the NPF “would resort to these matters when their Legislators are very much a part of the Joint Legislators Forum (JLF) as well as members of the Core Group of the JLF.”
“All issues on the ongoing Naga political talks and matters related therein are discussed threadbare in the meetings of the JLF and the Core Group,” it added.
The NDPP further stated that in the last five sessions of the 13th NLA, the PDA government has “ensured that the sessions go their full sittings unlike under the NPF regimes.”
It also alleged that the NPF’s previous opposition-less government had “fleeced the people of not only their constitutional rights but also stripped bare the state exchequer and all other developmental activities.”
Regarding allegations of backdoor appointments, it said that the NPF is “forgetting that their record of such appointments is an open secret.” Claiming that the PDA government has been committed to provide transparency, accountability and good governance, the NDPP said that the government is serious in its assurance of constituting the SSB, for which the report from the committee is awaited.
It further alleged that the previous NPF government had “decided to turn a blind eye, leave alone trying to address the issue.”
Stating that the previous reign of the NPF under TR Zeliang and Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu were “times when politics in Nagaland reared its ugliest head,” it stated that the members of the PDA and the coalition parties “respect and understand the mandate of the people.”
“Programs and commitment to the people are slowly being realised and it is our assurance that we will continue to serve the aspirations of the people,” the NDPP said.
