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Kekhrie Yhome speaking at the public rally in Kohima. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima, May 25 (EMN): The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) led People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) concluded its Lok Sabha by-election campaign for its candidate Tokheho Yepthomi in Kohima region by holding a public rally at High School Junction on Friday evening.
Speaking at the rally, Yepthomi’s chief agent, Prasielie Pienyü expressed sadness that the rival the Naga People’s Front (NPF) has taken its election campaign based on religious slur and violated the Election Commission of India’s codes. He, however, has an answer to why the NPF was propagating such thoughts: Because the NPF does not have any program or agenda for the public that it could talk about.
Pienyü brushed aside the NPF leaders’ claims that NPF is the only regional party, stating the ‘cock party’ was trying to forget that they have been aligned with national parties in a coalition government for the last 15 years in the form of Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN). In due course, they (NPF) lost their regional touch that is why their symbol, which used to be ‘local cock’ has now become a ‘broiler’, he taunted.
He also said that during the last four years, the state was plunged under crisis after crisis, corruption, lies and hatred with an unstable government without any development. All this happened due to lack of leadership and wrong direction, he pointed out, and asked the public to seriously ponder if they really wanted to bring back such leaders back to power.
President BJP Kohima district Khrielie Usou, in his address, expressed dismay that the NPF has taken on attacking the BJP in their campaigning rallies across the state. He said the NPF and BJP were part of a coalition government for the last 15 years under the banner of DAN and those who were alleging the BJP of being a Hindu party were the ones who led the three subsequent DAN government tenures. He said when they were in alliance, they (NPF) did not see any bad thing about the BJP and sought help from other parties including BJP but when the latter decided to go for seat sharing alliance with the NDPP, they are jealous.
Usou reminded that it was not even half a year that the BJP left the NPF to forge an alliance with the NDPP but the latter has gone all out to attack the party across the state. He said the BJP used to consider them (NPF leaders) as tall leaders but was dismayed on the words that they were using to speak about others on communal tones. He asserted that religion and politics were two totally different things.
He also alleged NPF leaders of doublespeak as they were all out against the BJP in Nagaland but their members were part of the BJP-led coalition government in neighbouring Manipur.
The BJP leader also responded to the allegation made by NPF that the by-election was necessitated due to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. He agreed that it was necessitated because Rio resigned from the parliament, but he resigned because his successors failed to keep a stable government, or bring about development in the state. Rio was called back by popular demand, Usou said, and the people who were barking now were the ones who could not deliver when they were in power.
NDPP’s assembly election candidate Dr. Kekhrie Yhome said the NDPP and BJP had won the assembly election with the slogan ‘change is coming’ and he believed that change will gradually come. He asked the public to check what difference has come in 6 months’ time.
Vouching for the PDA candidate Yepthomi as one who is capable of representing the Naga people and the state in Delhi, he said Yepthomi as a seasoned public figure knows and understands the public and the difficulties faced by them. “If we are to compare between Yepthomi and NPF candidate C Apok Jamir, the scales dip for the former,” he stated. While stating that he was not condemning others, he held Jamir as someone who has been raised by being fed with a ‘gold’ spoon, and one who would not know the difficulties faced by the common people.
Yhome also called upon the people to give keen interest in politics, which he observed was the only channel to bring changes in the society. “Give interest in politics and tell the government where its failing/what it should do. Public grievances cells are to be set up soon, you can put forward your suggestions on where improvements/development are needed. Government is ready to entertain them,” he stated.
He also termed the NPF’s campaign on religious lines as ridiculous talks and stated that the ‘cock’ appears to be going mad. He went to prove his point by saying that the NDPP was in alliance with the BJP and the BJP was a major partner in the PDA, but they were not wearing ‘dhoti’ or donning ‘tikka’. He ridiculed the opposition saying the NPF has become ‘Naga Pagla Front’.
On a more serious note, the academician turned politician appealed everyone to exercise their franchise by going out to cast their precious votes on May 28 and choose a leader whom they think can best represent them.