Union Budget 2023-24 has nothing for Nagaland, says Congress

Dimapur, Feb. 1 (EMN): The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Wednesday claimed that the Union Budget presented in the parliament has ‘nothing’ for Nagaland and has misled the people of the state and the country.

Addressing a press conference on at Hotel Acacia in Dimapur, Sujata Paul, AICC media coordinator, said the general belief that the Union Budget has nothing to do with Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) is a misconception, as it is a separate department with a minister and depends on the Centre for funds, and that this funds should be equitably distributed among the north-eastern states.

She also said that the Budget had mentioned about 6.1% growth rate but these are ‘big words the common man cannot understand’, adding that when one goes to the grassroots, 14 crore people in the country are unemployed.

She alleged the Central government has failed the people of Nagaland and that the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance have not been able to get any special package for Nagaland, ‘which shows that the Central and state governments do not care’.

The Congress leader further stated that there is ‘nothing’ on roads and no announcement of packages for sports. People want jobs, facilities and platforms where they can showcase their talents but the government has not provided any package for Nagaland, she added.

Temjenyanger Longkumer, Secretary, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), said that nothing has changed in the state over the last five years.

‘They (government) cannot solve even small issues and even the basic infrastructure in the state,’ he stated, adding that nothing has changed and it is just ‘all talks’.

“They talk about special status for the Nagas but it is not shown in the Budget because what we see in Nagaland today was built during the Congress’ time, and there is no special treatment or solution,” he added.

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