EMN
DIMAPUR, MAY 20
ON a historic occasion for the Indian Parliament, when the Prime Minister-in-waiting, Narendra Modi made his maiden speech to the NDA, a small surprise lay for people in the state of Nagaland.
The day definitely belonged to NaMo but it was no less for Rio. First time parliamentarian Neiphiu Rio, in his maiden appearance in the house, was forced to speak when BJP patriarch LK Advani invited him to address the NDA gathering. The impromptu request, it is learnt, also took Rio quite by surprise, but not one to lose an opportunity Rio did not disappoint.
He took the opportunity to highlight what has all along been the plank of his electoral campaigns … the callous treatment of the Congress-led UPA government towards states with smaller shares in the country’s revenue. Rio recalled the visit of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Nagaland when the Centre gave packages in terms of crores, but when the NDA lost elections in 2004, his government was suppressed and punished by UPA -I and UPA –II, even to the extent of imposition of President’s rule on June 2, 2008.
He mentioned how despite these hiccups in the recent assembly elections in March 2013, the NPF returned with more mandate, and in his third term as Chief Minister the Congress MLAs in the State have been reduced to 8 in a 60-member house.
While acknowledging the historic win of the BJP-led NDA and the historic moment of the alliance meeting in the Parliament, Rio said it was after meeting Modi that he decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls believing in his leadership. He said that his meeting with Modi made him feel that he was ready to shoulder bigger responsibilities for Nagaland and the region in building a “mighty nation”.
He said that even as he is committed to the alliance he hopes that the country will look at the Northeast and its problems. Rio expressed confidence that better days are ahead and that the NE region is also looking ahead to contributing to the nation and not to remain a “liability”. He reaffirmed support and confidence in the leadership of NDA and to work towards strengthening the same.
Only five of the 29 allies of the BJP-led NDA were present when they called on the President to stake claim to form the government. Rio as the Chairman of the North East Regional Parties Forum, a conglomerate of 10 political parties in the region including PA Sangma’s National People’s Party, was in attendance.
