State chief minister Neiphiu Rio Thursday assured the youth that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) had hope on young people and that the party has visionary schemes and programmes for the youth.
Speaking at elections rallies in Dimapur III and Ghaspani II A/Cs, Rio regretted that the Congress manifesto which promised tablet PCs for class nine and ten students and laptops for class eleven students was an insult to the youth of Nagaland.
Rio said the Congress claims to be the largest national party which led the UPA government at the Centre but all they could promise the youth were tablet PCs and laptops. He said that if the Congress really had concern for Naga youth, they should have promised medical and engineering colleges instead of laptops.
“Naga youth are not fools and we cannot be insulted by such cheap gimmicks,” Rio said and added that the Naga youth could not be swayed by being offered lollipops. He regretted that even after 50 years of statehood and decades of Congress rule in Delhi and Nagaland, the state was yet to have any technical college of higher education.
Rio also said that the Congress manifesto lacked vision and exposed its lack of sincerity on the Naga political issue. Nine years of Congress government in Delhi could not result in a political solution and now the Congress was promising the Nagas that they would bring solution if the people vote for them.
While addressing another rally at Doyapur, Rio assured the gathering that the NPF stood for the protection of minorities as enshrined in the NPF manifesto. He was accompanied by medical minister Kuhzoluzo (Azo) Neinu who also addressed the gatherings.