NPCC has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to intervene into the proposal of BJP state unit to paint party symbol (Lotus) in polling stations.
In a representation to the ECI submitted through the CEO Nagaland, NPCC vice president Khriedi Theünuo pointed out that as per election guidelines there should be no political party office within 200 meter of a polling station.
In such case, NPCC said BJP Nagaland president issuing directive to the state BJP legislators to paint the party symbol in all polling stations was a clear violation of the election guideline.
NPCC said the proposed move also attracts the provision of election guidelines for defacement of public places.
NPCC, therefore, urged the ECI to direct the state district election officers, who were responsible for the provision of polling stations and the publication of the list of polling stations, to immediately act on the said directive of BJP state president and not to include polling stations which were painted with BJP symbol in the list of polling stations.
PAC on political solution
Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, which held a meeting on September 24, 2018, expressed concern over the “painful life that public traverse in Nagaland” and maintained that aspiration of the public for peace, freedom, development and opportunities should be the basis in finding political solution.
PAC said Nagaland was the “most unliveable state” in view of dilapidated roads, internal disturbances, fear, corruption, backwardness and lawlessness in the state. However, the committee said the government of India, the state and Naga national workers were at peace. “They all hunt the public as their prey for food (tax). The public must be relieved from being hunted as prey without protection,” PAC said.
Stating that recent natural fury has further destroyed “our dear potholed roads”, the PAC expressed pain that the Centre failed to provide an estimated Rs.800 crore damage cost and gave Rs.65.25 crore.
Maintaining that has Centre has trust deficit upon the state, PAC said “They may have thought it will only be misused.”
The committee expressed hope that the “little precious gift” would be used for the purpose without slashing.
Attributing the difficulties to “unreasonable delay” in resolving the political problem, the PAC, however, appreciated that government of India has, at last, heard the voice of the people for inclusive talks.
The committee affirmed that it would continue to appeal to NNC/FGN and NSCN(K) and government of India to open talks. Stating that it believes in negotiation and not in war to solve the problem, NPCC said its policy has been to endeavour to solve the political problem through non-violence and constitutional means, adding “we stand by what we have committed.”
Further, maintaining that Nagas were united in finding peaceful solution, NPCC said there was little or no reason to divide. “The cause is one, the objective is one, solution will be one and the future will be one. Even after solution, we will live together, as we do today with our inherent culture, customs and social practices,” NPCC remarked.
PAC has appealed to the government of India to be reasonable to the citizens. It also appealed to Naga national workers to appreciate the predicaments of the public.