Stung by the statement of the newly floated Nationalist Democratic Progress Party (NDPP) at its Mokokchung convention, which described the present NPF-led DAN coalition government as having failed on all fronts and the “worst ever”; the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) through Namcyn Hau, press secretary to chief minister, T.R. Zeliang has issued an ultimatum on the NDPP to immediately withdraw/retract the statement in order to “avoid repercussions”.
The CM’s press secretary further said, “for their own good, NDPP leaders must understand that their own family members are current minister/s and parliamentary secretary/s running the present day Government and slinging mud against that very government is nothing but political suicide.”
Hau said the audacity of NDPP leaders in questioning the credibility of the state government led by Zeliang and formed with the support of Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio and others reflected the “not-so-clean” intentions of NDPP and a clear example of double standards.
Hau also warned that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) might not play second fiddle to NDPP either in the upcoming 2018 Assembly elections or in the event of an amicable solution to the protracted “Indo-Naga” issue. He also asked NDPP to validate its accusation with proof instead of banking on political rhetoric.
Despite the claims that NDPP was formed in response to the call of the masses for a change after consultation with the common people to “fight corruption, be accountable, transparent and restore the governing system”, Hau said it be may be nothing more than political juggleries based on the fact that several NDPP leaders were the top-boss of the DAN government at one point. “Today, their Pandora box is in the custody of the government and may be opened on unwarranted accusations and therefore, instead of provoking the government, it will do more good by continuing to improve its policies, programs and activities as a responsible political party,” Hau stated.
While not denying that the present day government has its own drawbacks, Hau however said that the government was putting its best of effort to tackle prevailing issues at hand and would continue to do in the coming future.
Hau also hit back by warning that while NDPP had supported the NPF and its government at the NPF Convention in Dimapur but at defaming the same government at its consultative meet at Mokokchung would not further the cause of the NDPP as a political party.
“If at all NDPP under its motto ‘By Deeds, not Words’ is serious on building a ‘good Nagaland’, it can do a lot better by focusing on its priorities instead of bad-mouthing the Government and using the same as boosters for the party’s start-up,” he advised.
Therefore, Hau said NDPP may like to come up with clear facts, figures and data instead of cheap and ill-conceived political rhetoric.