In a swift reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech Friday at the NDPP-BJP rally at Agri Expo that previous Congress government at the Centre used North East region as an ATM (to siphon money); Congress countered by accusing BJP of acting as ATM for NDPP government and state chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan here on Friday, AICC media coordinator and Supreme Court advocate Mahima Singh alleged that BJP first offered itself as ATM to the regional parties and then begins the “blackmail business”. She cited the Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Goa, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir as just few examples.
Mahima claimed that “now, CM Rio has been held hostage by the BJP, questioned by the ED for hours at the behest of BJP.” She said that Nagaland’s own MP had raised the question in Lok Sabha regarding this ATM business. Further, on Modi accusing the Congress of remote controlling Nagaland, Mahima said remote control was BJP’s tool to switch democracy to autocracy and that the saffron party was on a party eradication spree. She pointed out that NPP, was BJP’s friend earlier but now dumped after sucking away the nectar. Mahima said the Nagaland was next in line with regard to NDPP.
Mahima said it was known to all who remote controlled the state of Meghalaya and also used NPP as a pedestal to saffronise the state. “Now, the BJP is gearing up to gain full control over Nagaland,” she said. Mahima also recalled that a host of BJP leaders have been visiting Nagaland during the last ten days and making tall claims and “even taller allegations” against the Congress. However, she said Nagas have still not received any response yet from the BJP’s ‘Election for solution’ promise made in last election in 2018.
She maintained that BJP did not even make the slightest mention of Naga political solution in its current manifesto. Yet BJP leaders can face the public and are allowed to go without being questioned, Mahima said. She said it was the Congress that fulfilled the demand that Naga talks be held at the highest level. She said Dr. Manmohan Singh’s government was on the brink of resolving the issue, but BJP came to power and that since then, the ambiguity had consistently been intensified.
Further, she said Congress party had categorically raised questions on BJP’s intent on the Christians of Nagaland and on their views of Nagaland’s 17 tribes with respect to Uniform Civil Code. However, instead of clarification, she said BJP only responded with allegations. The AICC functionary therefore urged upon the Nagas that this (election) was the opportunity to redefine their fate and not link to those who were here to condemn the unique identity of Nagas and to engulf it in the majority religion.
NPCC reacts: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has reacted to the resignation of its president K Therie’s chief agent Kikhevi Yepthomi.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan, Dimapur on Friday, NPCC communications department chairperson Wezote Kreo, said that Yepthomi had been opposing BJP ideology for two decades, but whatever caused his action would be best known to him.
He said that people who have left the party have no principle in politics and “likely to change their party” when there is change of government at the Centre.
Kikhevi clarifies: Former chief agent of K Therie Kikhevi Yepthomi on Thursday clarified that he resigned from the party due to lack of trust and coordination between him and K Therie.
He also refuted allegations that he was bribed to join BJP and termed it as rumours which was aimed at tarnishing his image.