Naga People’s Front (NPF) has reacted accusations by the Congress, that corruption has led to empty coffers and halt to development and adding the Congress proved it was ‘living in an isolated fool’s paradise.”
NPF Press and Media Bureau described Congress as having a “culture of high command politics” that was alien to Nagas as showcased in the recent weeks.
On Rahul’s recent visit to Nagaland, NPF said “flying visits by Congress leaders” that make “tall statements” then “fly out” showed “how well” the Congress central leadership was connected with the people at the grass root.
Pointing out that AICC general secretary Faleiro, had described the DAN government as the “champion of corruption” NPF said this was also repeated by Rahul Gandhi.
NPF said high hopes of the youth on Rahul’s visit proved a damper as he only “lectured about corruption and poverty.”
It said Congress leaders have forgotten that their party was the architect of the “biggest corruption scams” in the country’s history such as the 2G scam and the Common Wealth Games scam, being just two examples of plunder.
It also took a jibe at the “symbolic rhetoric” of Rahul having tea at a tea stall “run by non-Nagas and paying a hundred rupees”. NPF said that would not convince Naga youth that the Congress was with them.
NPF said the “so-called Yuvraj (prince) of the Congress” supposed to be the power behind the throne “came empty and left empty” and left many Naga youth disappointed and confused on the purpose of his visit.
It said during his visit, Rahul neither spelt out any new initiative for the people nor shared any vision besides making no announcement “for an economically backward state like Nagaland”. It said Rahul had flown out just as he had flown in “except for a ten-minutes halt at a tea stall”.
Reacting to the Congress attack that DAN government “purchased” the India Today State of States award for infrastructure development for Nagaland, NPF reminded that the award for the state was presented by union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
NPF claimed that Pranab had in his speech, endorsed the award and appreciated the “independent nature and accurate parameters of assessment” for selection.
NPF pointed out that when many Congress-ruled states were awarded for achievements and improvement, it asked if it meant that even Congress governments “purchased their awards?”
NPF said the Congress culture of “hero worship and blind hypocrisy” was alien to Naga society”, but for a regional party like the NPF, its “real high command are the masses”.