Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has decided to take on the ruling NPF-led DAN government by releasing a booklet titled “11 years of NPF misrule in Nagaland under chief minister Neiphiu Rio” on the even of the Lok Sabha election scheduled on April 9.
The NPCC had released the booklet at a press conference held in the Congress Bhavan Kohima on March — contained allegations of mis-governance and corruption which had been highlighted on occasions.
The booklet also contained the charge against NPF of relegating the election promise made in 2003 that it would bring solution to the Naga political problem within three months if voted to power.
It also slammed the NPF’s “equi-closeness” policy with underground groups saying it has only “yielded more negative returns” and heightened public resentment against “high-handedness and ruthless” taxations imposed by the UG groups .
It cited the Mukalimi incident, where public “confronted and destroyed the UG camp” and also rise of social groups like ACAUT fighting against the menace of unabated and multiple taxations by UG groups. NPCC said such a situation “threatens to derail the Naga political settlement”.
The booklet accused the DAN government of abdicating its mandated authority which has been hijacked by the mushrooming parallel governments across the state on the issue of Naga nationalism.
It also said relations with neighbouring states have also been damaged under NPF. Further, it also reiterated its charge against NPF for protecting a “criminally charge sheeted minister” Imkong L. Imchen.
NPCC also slammed NPF for empowering “some selected NGOs” who have become the “mouthpiece of Neiphiu Rio” to participate in District Planning & Development Board meetings against established government role and responsibilities.
It also said the slogan- Nagaland as “Land of Festivals” coined by NPF government has only patronised a culture of festive merrymaking and causing socio-economic unrest and stunting growth.
The booklet also ridiculed road shows amid deplorable roads, harassment of Nagaland Contractors & Suppliers Union (NCSU) and the suspension of municipal and town council elections which were due since 2010.
On the financial front, the booklet maintained that Nagaland has landed in deep financial crisis with NPF failing to bring out Works Programme for 2013-14. NPCC claimed that as against the award of the 13th Finance Commission of Rs.1471.85 cr as salaries for one year, the state during 2012-13 incurred a total expenditure of Rs.2570.32 cer and by 2013-14 it has shot up to Rs.3119.73 cr. It said the state resorted to overdraft of Rs.682.88 cr during 2012-13 in addition to Ways and Means advance of Rs.1485.86 cr during 2012-13 and increasing the deficit to over Rs.2000 cr.
Other issues highlighted in the booklet included force retirement of around 7000 employees from 2009 onwards, misuse of fund of Rs.18 cr for Police Modernisation, abandonment of the NERDP project without a single kilometre being constructed, siphoning of Rs.712 cr for implementing RoP.
The booklet also detailed abnormal contract and cost escalations of major works from 100% to 700% over original estimates and also cited rampant financial mismanagement of MGNREGA funds involving Rs.1124.39 cr.
Further, it also alleged random appointments of 10,781 employees within a year (2012-13) adding to the state’s financial problems. It also accused the NPF of backdoor appointments of 3000 employees for kith and kin including NPF workers and sympathisers.