Dimapur, November 10 (MExN): A tickled Congress today wondered about the parameters for which Nagaland was awarded the so-called “most improved state” award earlier this month by the India Today group, a private agency. Well aware of the ground realties in Nagaland, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee today observed that the “award” may have been “purchased.”
Unless the NPF spells out the parameters, the Congress said, “The public have the liberty to believe that the award was a purchased one.”
Nagaland Cong doubts integrity of ‘Most improved state’ award
Coming as one of the biggest surprises for the state’s citizens this year, a corporate group, the India Today Group, gave Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio the “Most Improved State” award in the category of small states on November 4 in New Delhi.
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) is amused at the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) members congratulating the DAN government for being awarded the “Most improved small state” in infrastructure, by the India Today Group, an independent private agency.
“What was more ridiculous was quoting the name of Shri. Pranab Mukherjee, the honorable Union Finance Minister to buttress its shameless over-statement. When the State doesn’t have any ‘state of the art’ public utility infrastructure worth its name, one wonders as to what were those recognized and acceptable parameters that qualified the State for the award,” the media cell of the NPCC stated today in a press release.
The NPF owes the people of Nagaland the duty to spell out the parameters to being given the award, the Congress said. “Else, the public have the liberty to believe that the award was a purchased one, like any other commodities freely available in the market. The NPF can’t fool the Naga people with such cheap publicity,” the opposition said.
The Congress expressed regret that the private agency had apparently given the award on paper report without taking ground realities in Nagaland into account.
“Had the private agency conducted a fair assessment at the ground level, they could have seen the stark realities of the conditions of our roads and bridges, school buildings, hospitals, etc. in the periphery,” the NPCC said.
“Constructing few palatial buildings at exorbitant budgets in the state capital for use by a fraction of people in high places could not have merited the award. The agency owes the Nagas an explanation, the basis for the award or it would be construed as having let down the people of Nagaland by misleading the country on development front,” the NPCC said.
In another matter, the NPCC also decried the statement of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio that the Nagas were “safer under a regional ruling party in the state.”
“Did that mean only NPF people are Nagas? Or, was he implying that regional parties are not under the constitution of India? By equating sovereignty and independence with that of regional ruled state, he had not only crushed the aspirations of the national workers but also belittled the on-going political talk,” the NPCC asserted in it press release.
Rio’s statement may also be interpreted as a call to the undergrounds to abandon their struggle and join the NPF party, the NPCC remarked. “That, the Nagas were “quite safe” under the Indian union, was an open admission that Statehood is the end of the road for the Nagas, a stand he stoutly opposed earlier and the slogan on which he rode to power. He can’t fool the Nagas and the Government of India with such hypocrisy.”
Unless the NPF spells out the parameters, the Congress said, “The public have the liberty to believe that the award was a purchased one.”
Nagaland Cong doubts integrity of ‘Most improved state’ award
Coming as one of the biggest surprises for the state’s citizens this year, a corporate group, the India Today Group, gave Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio the “Most Improved State” award in the category of small states on November 4 in New Delhi.
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) is amused at the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) members congratulating the DAN government for being awarded the “Most improved small state” in infrastructure, by the India Today Group, an independent private agency.
“What was more ridiculous was quoting the name of Shri. Pranab Mukherjee, the honorable Union Finance Minister to buttress its shameless over-statement. When the State doesn’t have any ‘state of the art’ public utility infrastructure worth its name, one wonders as to what were those recognized and acceptable parameters that qualified the State for the award,” the media cell of the NPCC stated today in a press release.
The NPF owes the people of Nagaland the duty to spell out the parameters to being given the award, the Congress said. “Else, the public have the liberty to believe that the award was a purchased one, like any other commodities freely available in the market. The NPF can’t fool the Naga people with such cheap publicity,” the opposition said.
The Congress expressed regret that the private agency had apparently given the award on paper report without taking ground realities in Nagaland into account.
“Had the private agency conducted a fair assessment at the ground level, they could have seen the stark realities of the conditions of our roads and bridges, school buildings, hospitals, etc. in the periphery,” the NPCC said.
“Constructing few palatial buildings at exorbitant budgets in the state capital for use by a fraction of people in high places could not have merited the award. The agency owes the Nagas an explanation, the basis for the award or it would be construed as having let down the people of Nagaland by misleading the country on development front,” the NPCC said.
In another matter, the NPCC also decried the statement of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio that the Nagas were “safer under a regional ruling party in the state.”
“Did that mean only NPF people are Nagas? Or, was he implying that regional parties are not under the constitution of India? By equating sovereignty and independence with that of regional ruled state, he had not only crushed the aspirations of the national workers but also belittled the on-going political talk,” the NPCC asserted in it press release.
Rio’s statement may also be interpreted as a call to the undergrounds to abandon their struggle and join the NPF party, the NPCC remarked. “That, the Nagas were “quite safe” under the Indian union, was an open admission that Statehood is the end of the road for the Nagas, a stand he stoutly opposed earlier and the slogan on which he rode to power. He can’t fool the Nagas and the Government of India with such hypocrisy.”
