BJP questions NPF’s ‘defence’ of corruption in Nagaland

Dimapur, November 30: No more the obliging ally, the Nagaland unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has queried the Naga People’s Front (NPF) why the latter was ‘defending’ corruption in Nagaland, a concern that the governor of the state had been extremely vocal about in the recent times. The BJP issued a press release on Wednesday virtually drawing battle lines–the present Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government is surviving “on the oxygen given by the BJP led NDA government”, the national party retorted. “The BJP stands behind the clarion call given by the (honourable) Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi to provide corruption free and good governance to the people–why is NPF defending corruption by blaming BJP,” the press release queried. The governor is the constitutional head of the state and he can visit any place ‘where he can meet the people of the state to know the ground realities, the BJP declared. “...why is NPF questioning the tour programme of the head of the state. Any NGOS, organisation, political parties can call on the governor of the state in the Raj Bhavan where they can address their grievances,” the party stated. The organization also referred to their government position in the recent past. It is for the people of the state and the people to know whether the “good portfolio” given to BJP legislators were actually important portfolios, the press release stated. In fact, the party stated, the same portfolios were ‘re-allotted to the three BJP legislators after dropping’ a parliamentary secretary, Mhonlumo Kikon, on October 28. The BJP stated: “The portfolios are Labour and Employment, Transport and communication, Cooperation, Skill up gradation, Treasure and Accounts, IT and Border Affairs. The BJP president and vice chairman of DAN was accorded status of parliamentary secretary whereas, the CEC meeting confirmed that the cabinet status was accorded to the BJP state president, hence, the govt. may regularise to this effect and may issue as cabinet status with immediate effect.” Further, on the statement that the BJP was “surviving because of the NPF,” the national party had this retort: ‘The party would like to remind that the present DAN government is surviving on the oxygen given by the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government.’ The BJP and the NPF were partners from 2003 to 2009. In 2009 the alliance was “broken where two BJP MLAs joined NPF, the present Home minister was one of them and there was no more alliance. The DAN alliance was only revived in 2013,” it stated. The statement also informed that the Nagaland BJP had reaffirmed their resolution which was passed during the second state BJP executive meeting that was held at Mokokchung on the 24th of June on the “open door policy.” The policy stated that any political party, including the NPF, could join the party without any precondition. The press release was appended by Yanghose Sangtam, spokesman of the Nagaland BJP.