NDA to decide on Cong joining DAN govt: State BJP

Terming the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee’s (NPCC) rejoinder as a “personal attack” on the state BJP president, a release by spokesperson of BJP, said it only displayed the frustration of the Congress and such character assassination whether by political rival or individual should be restrained.
BJP reiterated that its earlier statement was issued as the voice of the party and not in an individual capacity as practised by all political parties.
BJP said the problem with the Congress was in thinking that it was the only political party which could do no wrong for the nation.
BJP said “we leave it to God” if Congress believed they were better Christians because they are Congress. However it said, “ just because we are BJP members, it doesn’t change our upbringing”. It reiterated “whether in beef eating or practising our own faith, we are enjoying perfect freedom in both” adding such matters were state subjects.
BJP said Nagaland had both constitutional safeguard and power to reject “what is not good for our culture and faith.”
It maintained that the onus was with Nagas and not with just one political party; therefore, Congress “should not indulge in cheap propaganda for political mileage”.
BJP also condemned the “careless utterance of the NPCC” that recognition of “uniqueness of Naga history” by the Vajpayee government “ was just to humour some main stakeholders”.
BJP said the “recognition” was for the entire Nagas and not as misinterpreted and that such “irresponsible” utterance could have “long-term irreparable ramification on Nagas”.
 BJP accused Congress in Nagaland of being known for “sabotaging Naga political solution” and that it was up to its “old dirty tricks again.” BJP said Nagas “shall not fall prey” to the anti-Naga designs of Congress again.
On the status of three BJP MLAs, it said induction of one of them as parliamentary secretary (on Monday) “should convince” Congress. Further it said if NPF lost trust on BJP, then inducting one BJP to cabinet and another as parliamentary secretary (on Monday) “could not have taken place”. BJP also corrected Congress that the government was NPF-led DAN and not just NPF-led government.  BJP said the above scenario would not change even if Congress joined the government but instead Congress would still lose its identity. It reminded that NPF and BJP were “natural allies” since 2003 and that if NPF considered BJP “communal” then the relationship would not have lasted till today.
On NPCC claim that it backed T.R. Zeliang to avert constitutional crisis, BJP reminded that the role of opposition was to face such crisis headlong and not shy away from.
Instead, BJP accused Congress of having created “ a peculiar constitutional crisis” by voting for the ruling party, that it had been attacking all along. BJP said, the issue was not about numbers but denying principle and ideology, “squarely for power”. It said when all 51 alliance members voted for the motion, Congress cannot claim credit for saving the government. Instead, BJP said Congress betrayed its electorate which was “not good for democracy”.
BJP said the issue of Congress joining the DAN government was the business of DAN allies and more so BJP, a pre-poll ally. With BJP was “firmly” in government, it said if Congress wanted to join, then it will also be decided by NDA .
BJP cautioned Congress against attempting to “disturb the harmonious spirit” of DAN as it would only destabilise the government and harm the state on the development front.
Taking a jab, BJP said that in the best interest of DAN, the people and democracy, it was best that Congress remained an opposition party and if it cannot accept “this simple truth” then people of Nagaland would decide in the next election.