Pandemonium in Cong Bhavan over petition for disqualification of 8 party legislators

Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 24

Just before launching of NPCC Road Map, there was pandemonium and much trepidation among senior party workers over the issue of petition for disqualification of the 8 Congress MLAs who recently joined the NPF-led DAN government.
The MLAs refused to allow the programme to continue and demanded the AICC and NPCC to explain the reason behind the petition for disqualification.
“Senior party members from Nagaland have met the AICC president and the vice-president and we have not asked to revoke the suspension of our 8 MLAs, we only requested to keep the issue in abeyance because of the Naga political issue. When all the 60 Naga legislators have come together in this regard, why is the Congress acting against it?” demanded one of the party workers.
While acknowledging that the Congress party and the BJP cannot share a dais together, he pointed out that the local context and situation has compelled the MLAs to join in the formation of the government led by the DAN-III, of which the BJP is an ally.
During the melee, a representation was also given to the NPCC president K Therie, demanding the withdrawal of the disqualification petition, apparently by 44 ACCC presidents – 7 each from Tuensang and Mokokchung districts, 6 each from Kohima, Zunheboto and Mon, 4 from Wokha, 3 each from Dimapur and Phek, and 1 each from Peren and Longleng.
Their contention was that the MLAs did not join the government on their own decision but with the endorsement of the party workers, considering the urgency to get involved at a crucial time when the Naga political settlement is at a threshold.
Following the suspension of the 8 Congress MLAs, appeals were made to the party high command to review the suspension in the larger interest of the party, the representation stated. However, one week later the NPCC went and filed the disqualification petition and the disgruntled party workers said they failed to see how the party will derive any benefit from the disqualification. They are of the view that the “extreme act” will be counterproductive and devastating to the Congress party.
Towards, this, the ACCC presidents appealed for withdrawal of the petition in the greater interest of the state congress as well as the people of Nagaland.
They threatened that the ACCCs would pull out their cooperation from October 4, 2015 until the time the disqualification petition is withdrawn. Copies of the representation to the AICC president and the general secretary i/c NE states were also handed over to the visiting official.
The dissident group also clearly displayed discontentment with the incumbent NPCC president and the party’s ongoing “revamping program” wherein, it is alleged that a huge number of ACCC presidents were suspended and DCC presidents and officials were recently dismissed unceremoniously. They held up placards during the meeting, some of which read, “Remove pro-BJP NPCC President”, “K Therie’s NPCC Road Map to Destruction”, “Put a hold to Revamping Program”, “We want INC party, Not K Therie Party” etc.
AICC general secretary, V Narayanasamy tried to placate the outraged party workers by explaining that the party president, Sonia Gandhi had clearly conveyed that there was no problem with Congress MLAs being a part of TR Zeliang’s government, but the Congress party could not compromise with the BJP. The party president gave clear directions that if the BJP is to be a part of the same government, the Congress could not be part of it, he said.
On the disqualification petition against the 8 Congress MLAs of Nagaland, he said the party functions on its ideologies and not on personal agendas. As such, the Congress leadership took a considered view and decided that the party should not compromise its ideologies and directed for disciplinary action against the MLAs.
The AICC official asserted that the president gave the directions to take action against the MLAs who went on to join the government along with the BJP.
The NPCC president, while expressing his regrets over the earlier uproar, stated that the grievances will be addressed in a proper and systematic manner and not under duress. “The bottom line is the Congress party and the BJP cannot go hand in hand,” he stated, but added, “Now you are opposing the decision of the Congress president.” He asked them to take up the issue with the party high command so that a final decision can be delivered.

NPCC launches Road Map

Eyeing the 2018 Assembly Elections, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), under the leadership of Kewekhape Therie, has finally brought out the Road Map for Nagaland towards overcoming political, economical and social issues of the State.
The Road Map was formally released by AICC general secretary in-charge of Northeast, V Narayanasamy here at Congress Bhavan this afternoon amidst uproar by sections of party workers over disqualification of 8 Congress MLAs.
Addressing the launching programme, Narayanasamy said, the Road Map projects the failures of BJP government at the Centre, Nagaland’s financial crisis, total halt of development activities in the State, and the mission document of the Congress party containing 37 points. He recalled that when NDA government came to power in 2014, it gave assurances to the people of the country, which were announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at public gatherings.
He reminded of the three main promises of Modi that within 100 days of ruling, three major issues would be tackled – to contain and control price rise; to bring back crores of black money siphoned off; and to provide 1 crore employment. But none of these assurances was fulfilled, he said.
Narayanasamy alleged, Modi government has shown callous attitude towards the plight of the people particularly from Northeast states. Towards this, he cited the beef ban, conversion of Christians and Muslims, restriction of CSS grants to 50%, removal of special category status, proposal to remove reservation etc. All this indicates that the Modi government and the BJP is anti-NE people and the minorities are not safe in their hands, he said.
Also speaking on the occasion, Therie maintained that the Road Map is a vision statement of the State Congress party and its commitment to the people. He expressed the hope that it will benefit the party in knowing more about its aims and objectives to the Naga people. He also called upon all the DCCs to interpret the content of the Road Map into their respective dialects for the benefit of the public.
A resolution of the NPCC executive committee taken on September 23 was also moved on the occasion and subsequently adopted by the gathering. It stands to adopt and enact the NPCC Road Map to secure to all citizens justice, social, economic and political liberty of thought, expression, belief and worship- equality of status and opportunity; to appeal to all to join the Congress platform and participate in shaping the future and secure the above for clean electoral roll, clean election and clean state government; and to appeal to all secular minded people to come together to defend freedom of religion and social practices.
AICC secretary in-charge of Nagaland Dr. K Jayakumar also spoke on the occasion.

AICC welcomes Naga Peace Accord

AICC general secretary and in-charge of Northeast, V Narayanasamy today said, the Congress Party in New Delhi welcomes the Naga Peace Accord but expresses astonishment on why clauses of the agreement were kept in the dark.
Speaking to party workers at Congress Bhavan Kohima this afternoon he said, the Congress party welcomed the recently signed Peace Accord between the NSCN (IM) and the Central government.
He however said, “the Prime Minister had declared that an agreement was reached and no one knows what the agreement or its content is about.” He said no party was taken into confidence about the signing of the agreement.