Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise and national general secretary of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Praful Patel Sunday said he was “really worried about” Nagaland government’s financial condition adding, it was not a “very happy situation”.
Addressing hundreds of party men and women Sunday at Niathu Resort, Dimapur, Patel said Nagaland has “no money” for development or for any priority programmes it wanted to take up.
He said in the February 2013 elections people gave a thumping victory for the NPF to retain power but not to see that “public finances were completely running dry”.
He said people expected the NPF would rule and perform better, but lamented that instead it was not exactly happening. “I am sure there is lot of dissatisfaction amongst the people of Nagaland,” the union minister said.
Patel told NCP workers, that in view of the situation, they must make sure to send the message to the people that only the NCP could change things for the better in Nagaland.
He also asserted that NCP chief and Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar and other NCP leaders at the centre, have been taking “extraordinary effort” to see that the interest of progress and development in Nagaland was protected.
Patel also said that despite NCP extending outside support to the NPF-led DAN, the latter appeared not to show any respect for the support extended.
The union minister said he would personally communicate this with chief minister Neiphiu Rio so that necessary steps were taken.
He made it clear, that the support of the NCP at the Centre to the state government, would depend on how DAN treated the NCP state unit and workers and cautioned that its support cannot be taken for granted as it has to be reciprocated.
He encouraged party workers to strengthen the organization in every district as the NCP aimed to contest in all 60 assembly seats in the next election so as to form the government on its own or as a major coalition partner.
Patel said the reason the NCP did not ally with the Congress in the recent election was because they decided to go it alone. He said since Congress in the state was not in a strong position, it should have approached the NCP and not the other way round.
NCP for early Naga political resolution
Later, at a press meet, the minister, who was responding to the views expressed by state NCP president Neiba Ndang and other party members, for an early settlement of the Naga political issue , Praful Patel assured that NCP under Sharad Pawar would “fully support” a solution of the issue, that has been dragging on for years.
He said for the Nagas, the political issue was emotional and important as it was about their long-felt aspirations.
Patel pointed out that Nagaland was formed to meet such aspirations and their desire for permanent peace and prosperity could be achieved through an early settlement.
NCP responsible for paper mill revival
Union minister of heavy industries, Praful Patel made it clear, that the revival package for the Tuli Paper Mill should be credited to “NCP and NCP alone” . He also said that “nobody should take unnecessary credit”, not even the state government for the revival package.
Patel said many government came and went after making “empty promises and half-hearted attempts” for reviving the Tuli paper mill. He said this could be ascertained from files and records in the ministry.
Patel also said, revival of the Tuli paper mill was because of the efforts and enthusiasm shown NCP state unit party workers, leaders and legislators which became a reality with him as the minister.
The minister also disclosed that at a meeting with Nagaland minister for industries and commerce Pangnyu Phom, chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir and some legislators Sunday, he had asked the state government to employ at least 500 local people out of the 600 employees proposed for the Tuli Paper Mill.
He also informed that Rs. 100 crores has already been sanctioned out of the total Rs. 489 crore package.
On proposals for more industrial projects in Nagaland, the union minister said the state government need to first turnaround the Tuli paper mill in order to attract outside investors. He also stressed on the need for better infrastructure like road connectivity and power among others.
Economic development key to success
The Union Minister said that economic development was the key to success for the future generation and for the betterment of the state.
In this regard, he said there was potential in agri and allied sectors and so Nagaland and the Northeast states need to strategize successful industrial ventures in agriculture sector like food processing units.
Asked on Nagaland should over come infrastructural bottleneck, Patel said Naga political problem required to be addressed as he felt that “positive sentiments” were a necessity for development.
Patel assures to look into connectivity
Patel, who was earlier the minister for civil aviation, , expressed surprise over the withdrawal of services by private airlines from the state.
“I was under impression that the air connectivity has improved … under my ministry it went better.” He said. Patel assured that he would use his “personal goodwill” to look into the matter.
Earlier,at the reception programme, NCP Nagaland unit president Neiba Ndang highlighted the activities of the party in the state.
Ndang said that the party was “growing from strength to strength” and that it has now become the third largest party in the state.
NCP legislature party leader and MLA T M Lotha, in his speech, on behalf of the party legislators, lamented that though NCP was giving outside support to the NPF-led DAN government, the party workers seemed to have been “completely neglected” by the ruling coalition.
Patel arrived Dimapur airport at 9 a.m. and was received by hundreds of party workers in traditional attire.
After the reception, the minister and the NCP entourage headed to Niathu Resort where he had a closed door meeting with the Nagaland minister of industries and commerce, six other legislators, chief secretary and officials from Nagaland Pulp and Paper Company Limited.
Patel also held a separate closed door meetings with the state unit president, party legislators, party state officials and frontal organizations.
Later, he addressed the party workers at Niathu conference hall. Meanwhile, NCP sources said the date for the inauguration of the Tuli Paper Mill has not been fixed and that now the ball was in the state government’s court.
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