Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 23
The BJP backing out of the ‘manifesto debate’ clearly has the Congress some bragging rights to take at a dig at the NDPP-BJP combine. “What is making them frightened of a debate?” Shashi Tharoor asked, at a press conference in Dimapur before heading back to Delhi on February 23.
Reading out from a media handout prepared by the party, Tharoor added, “Why are candidates running from Common Platform events?” Though no names were taken, a prominent BJP legislator had missed a ‘common platform’ for candidates on February 22. “If they have been in power for 20 long years, they need to answer people's questions,” said the Congress Member of Parliament representing Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram Parliamentary Constituency.
With barely 4 days to go for poll day on February 27, he said that the people of Nagaland must vote keeping in mind the condition of the state. While stating that the state has seen no infrastructure development, in addition to electricity and water woes, lack of quality government schools and healthcare, he said that the many Central government schemes have failed to deliver.
Meanwhile, he said that the money meant for the people is going into the pockets of those who were and will be living like kings.
As opposed to the Congress manifesto, he said that the BJP manifesto containsonly hollow promises. He said that the BJP “manifesto does not even mention the political solution they have been announcing since 2015 but which has never materialised.” Citing what he said was “interactive sessions with young Nagas in both Kohima and Dimapur,” he said that the youth are concerned about unemployment and corruption undermining their dreams.
He further said that he will be raising in Parliament the issue of increasing attacks on minority Christians. “I think it is important that Christians have a good sense of what exactly is going on in our politics that a small minority of India should not be feeling beleaguered, threatened and intimidated.” He added, “Unfortunately, we have a ruling party that speaks one language in one place and another language somewhere else.”
Since electioneering started, parties like the LJP (Ram Vilas) and others in the electoral fray have maintained they are allies of the BJP. On this, Tharoor said that the Naga people should “see through the proxy parties” serving the interest of other parties.
Therie’s chief agent switches sides
In another development, state Congress President, K Therie’s “chief election agent” in the 1 Dimapur I Assembly seathas switched sides, to join BJP candidate H Tovihoto Ayemi’s camp. The Congress’s state Working President, Bobby Panicker acknowledged the development.
Therie’s former “chief agent,” Kikhevi Yepthomi, later told a press conference that he recently resigned, alongwith 4 others, from the Congress owing to issues of trust. “I resigned from the Congress because I felt that there was lack of trust between me and K Therie,” Yepthomi said, while adding that there should be confusion on why he left. He added, “When there is no trust between the candidate and chief agent then how can it work? Where there is no future, we cannot stay there. He doesn't take my advice. How can I coordinate with him in such a working situation?”
He said that he wanted to clarify a rumour claiming that Tovihoto Ayemi bribed him to leave Therie. While stating that this has tarnished his image, he said, “I am being accused of being bribed by Rs 1 cr. But I didn’t receive any money. I joined BJP because I find him (Ayemi) youthful and dynamic and development oriented. We need young leaders like Tovihoto Ayemi.”
