DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nagaland unit of the pressing issues faced by the state, just two days after the latter staged a dharna in Dimapur to show its resentment against the reported unearthing of INR 350 crore from the premises linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu during a recent raid conducted by the Income Tax department.
While acknowledging the efforts of the state BJP “in speaking out against actions that pose a threat to the welfare of every individual”, the NPCC accused BJP Nagaland president Benjamin Yepthomi, and Vanathi Srinivasan, BJP National President Mahila Morcha, of making ‘premature’ allegations in connection with the ‘ownership of money’, stating that “the competent authority has not yet provided sufficient information on the matter”.
In a press release, NPCC president, S Supongmeren Jamir maintained that the party firmly opposes any individual or group prioritising personal interests over societal wellbeing; and that it would shed light on frequently overlooked issues and critical matters the BJP fails to address.
While highlighting the unprecedented move by the BJP government in altering dates with religious significance to the Naga people, the party also accused the government of preferring “authoritarianism over democracy”, citing the exclusion of ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ from the Indian Constitution Day.
Expressing concern over corruption in the current government, the NPCC stressed the importance of a strong opposition party. “Furthermore, the BJP Nagaland unit appears to overlook the inadequate and irresponsible performance of their own representatives in their respective constituencies,” it alleged.
The party also accused the BJP of its insensitivity towards Christian beliefs, citing the vote counting of the recent 43 Tapi bye-election on a Sunday.
It is almost as if the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has permeated their thinking, influencing their decision-making process, it said, adding that the solution to Naga political issue, which was in talked about during election, remains indefinitely postponed, casting doubts on the competence of those responsible for resolving this long-standing conflict.
In the meantime, the NPCC stated that it took pride in advocating positive and constructive approaches to governance. It added that the grand old party prioritizes in “addressing the real issues faced by our people, without any bias” under the leadership of its President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
The party went on to advice the BJP in Nagaland to adopt similar values in its political endeavours and governance, if they are to serve the interests and aspirations of the people of Nagaland.
