Rio seeks public cooperation for PDA
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has called upon the people of Nagaland to come forward and extend support to the State government in providing stability, transparency, good governance and improving the overall welfare of all sections of the people.
Addressing rallies in Kiphire and Phek Wednesday, Rio said that it is an advantage for the people to have the PDA government in the State which was in alliance with the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and added that there could not be a better opportunity to expedite the peace process and all-round development of the State. Commenting on the NPF’s ongoing tirades against the NDPP and the BJP, Rio said that it was purely vindictive politics since the BJP chose to ally with the NDPP under his leadership.
“NPF is now accusing the BJP but the truth is they were in alliance for the last 15 years. The NPF could not provide good and stable governance to the people as there was a lack of decisive leadership for which the public also rose up openly against the government,” Rio stated.
Recalling the NPF president’s statement to the opposition leader as a “heraka boy” last year, Rio stated that now the NPF had no other option but to attack the NDPP and BJP in order to divert the public’s attention.
Rio stated that the NPF’s claim to be regional is not founded on truth since in the past the erstwhile NPC had teamed up with the Congress to depose the then chief minister KL Chishi. Rio went on to highlight the visions, developmental programmes and policies of the NDA and PDA governments and encouraged the people to reap the fruits of a good, stable government that was focused on the all-round development of the State.
Rio further assured that one of his top priorities will always be to address the grievances of the people. In his speech, PDA candidate Tokheho Yepthomi assured the gathering of serving the people with utmost sincerity, if elected. He also appealed to all PDA partners and supporters to vote in favour NDPP’s globe symbol.
Speaking on the occasion, adviser Dr Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire stated that central leadership has confidence and trust on the leadership of Rio. He urged the people to come and join the government and not the opposition, whose leadership is “weak and divided”.
Minister Neiba Kronu, who also spoke on the occasion, asserted that, with Naga peace process on, Yepthomi is the best candidate to represent the people as he is very seasoned and a senior leader who knows the Naga issue. He said people should not be deceived by lies of NPF.
Another rally was also held at 37 Tuyi A/C under Wokha district where in private secretary to deputy chief minister, Hachio Patton urged the citizens of the state to vote for PDA candidate Tokeho Yepthomi, who has had vast political experience and could speak about the grievances of the Nagas people the Parliament. BJP Wokha unit president, Meribemo als spoke on the occasion. The three day campaign was led by campaign convenor and BJP president 37 Tuyi AC, Renben Ngullie.
Zeliang lashes out at PDA government
DIMAPUR, MAY 23 (NPN): Upping the ante against the ruling coalition, opposition NPF intensified its attack on PDA government as the date for the Lok Sabha by-poll nears.
Addressing a public rally at Zunheboto town on Wednesday, NPF legislature party leader T.R. Zeliang charged the PDA government of bringing change “only through words and not deeds”.
Recalling the issue of Students Insurance Scheme which he had raised during the first Session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) and is yet to receive a reply from the government, he questioned as to whether the insurance scheme was a “Centrally-sponsored scheme or a State-funded scheme”.
“How are they going to implement it?” he wondered. He further queried as to whether the scheme had any linkage with third party companies and whether it was free for all or certain premium was to be paid by the beneficiaries.
Citing incidents on how chief minister Neiphiu Rio attempted to sow seeds of division and instability within the NPF, Zeliang alleged that Rio had earlier projected G Kaito Aye as chief ministerial candidate, which gave rise to crisis and hardships to the people of Nagaland.
“However now that Rio is in power, G Kaito Aye is being sidelined and preference is given to the newly elected members in the Cabinet,” he added.
Calling upon the Sumi community to remain vigilant against “evil designs” of the chief minister lest more capable Sumi leaders are sacrificed at the altar of his “political game for power and wealth”, Zeliang also highlighted sanctions approved for Zunheboto by the previous NPF regime which was allegedly diverted by the PDA government recently.
“Rs 2.75 crore which was sanctioned for development of Zunheboto town has now been diverted leaving no penny for the town,” he alleged. Taking a dig at Rio for the State’s financial crisis, Zeliang asserted that “after the one-time grant provided by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, the State’s deficit came down to zero. However, the tenure of 11 years by Rio as CM abnormally spiked the deficit to Rs 1,234 crore by the time he left for Delhi.”
It was pointed out that during the first session of the current Assembly, the figure was wrongly mentioned by Governor while addressing the House. The matter was taken up for debate at the Budget Session even as the opposition leader brought the matter to the notice of speaker in writing, demanding the reconciled figure from Reserve Bank of India. However, he said the speaker has not replied till date.
Meanwhile, commenting on the performance of the two-month-old PDA government, NPF spokesperson Achumbemo Kikon, referred to the incidents of attempts on the lives of two traders in Dimapur just few weeks after Rio took over as chief minister, the closure of petrol pumps in the State in protest against the kidnapping of a driver and helper of an oil tanker and the boycott of by-election by college students.
Ridiculing Ram Madhav, BJP’s national secretary general and in-charge of Northeast, and Rio for the alleged present mess in the State, Kikon said “Ram Madhav has been appointed as teacher of BJP and RSS, while he has engaged Rio as proxy local teacher to confuse the Christian population in Nagaland.”
Explaining difference between NPF-BJP alliance and NDPP-BJP alliance, Kikon clarified “NPF was never controlled by BJP, whereas the PDA government is controlled by BJP and NDPP is playing second fiddle to a de facto BJP government.”
In his speech, NPF candidate for the Lok Sabha by-poll, C Apok Jamir said the upcoming election was “not a contest between two tribes, but between two different ideologies which is issue-based.”
Calling upon the Nagas to vote for NPF in order to protect their interest, identity and religion, Jamir claimed NPF was the “true voice” of the Naga people.
Also addressing the gathering, Yitachu called upon the people to send the right person to represent them in the Parliament.
“Send the right person so that the Government of India listens to us, and this is the right time for us to come together and work together,” he appealed.
Others who spoke at the rally included NPF MLAs– Vikheho Swu, Dr Chumben Murry and NPF working president Huskha Yepthomi. The programme was chaired by NPF Zunheboto division president Akavi Sumi. This was stated in a press release issued by information & publicity wing of leader of opposition office.
RELATED POSTS
View all
