Mon/Tuensang | March 29 : With both the Congress and the NPF projecting the Naga political problem as the main poll plank in the forthcoming elections to the state’s lone Lok Sabha seat, the NPF has once again raked up the controversial booklet ‘Bedrock of Naga Society’ published by NPCC in 2000. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and NPF president Dr. Shurhozelie who are currently campaigning for the DAN consensus candidate CM Chang in Mon, Tuensang and Kiphire districts, said the Congress party has no right to talk about the Naga issue till the party officially disowns the booklet.
Addressing the kick-off campaign of the DAN consensus candidate at Mon town on Friday, the NPF president said the booklet not only declared that statehood compromised sovereignty of the Naga people, but also used derogatory remarks about Nagas including “brutish” and “uncivilized.” Stating that the Congress party was standing in the “witness box of Naga peoples’ court,” the NPF leader said it is time that the state Congress apologizes to the Naga people for ‘insulting the Naga peoples’ aspirations’.
Terming the “Bedrock” as the Congress’ “Bible”, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio ridiculed the statement of Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha, Asungba Sangtam that he can be a “good facilitator” to the Naga political issue. “Asungba’s claim is an insult to Nagas since during his ten years as MP he had done nothing towards this end. If he talks at all, it will be only on Congress policies” Rio said. The Congressman would not dare to displease his Congress masters by raising the Naga issue, Rio remarked. Both Rio and Shurhozelie also said the DAN Government will support recognition of the rights of Naga people in Myanmar and assured to extend all possible help to “eastern Naga” –politically, economically and socially.
The chief minister who also addressed a rally at the Tuensang town hall on Saturday, hit out at the Congress for skipping the recent Naga consultative meeting held in Kohima. When all sections of the society including political parties and the Naga armed groups attended the meeting, Rio said, the state Congress leaders issued a press statement in Delhi, that they would not be able to attend the meeting.
This act of the Congress is ample proof that the party does not want Naga unity, unification and reconciliation, Rio said, and that the state Congress leaders are mere agents of the high command in Delhi.
In his address, the CM also recollected that in 2003, the then NDA Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had spent three days in Nagaland and had announced an economic package worth 1050 crores for Nagaland. Rio questioned whether a Congress PM had ever done such a thing in more than 50 years of the Congress ruling the country.
Instead the Congress did everything to create hurdles to stop the PM’s package, which was mainly meant for development of the backward areas, from materialising, Rio said.
CM Chang appealed the people of Tuensang to vote for him so that he can voice the aspirations of the Naga people in Parliament. Agriculture minister Dr. Chumben Murry and Land Resources minister P Longon also addressed the Tuensang rally. After the meeting at Tuensang town, the chief minister had a meeting with village leaders of Tuensang Village in the village panchayat hall in connection with the bye election for the vacant assembly seat. Rio is also scheduled to address a party rally at Kiphire on Monday.
Addressing the kick-off campaign of the DAN consensus candidate at Mon town on Friday, the NPF president said the booklet not only declared that statehood compromised sovereignty of the Naga people, but also used derogatory remarks about Nagas including “brutish” and “uncivilized.” Stating that the Congress party was standing in the “witness box of Naga peoples’ court,” the NPF leader said it is time that the state Congress apologizes to the Naga people for ‘insulting the Naga peoples’ aspirations’.
Terming the “Bedrock” as the Congress’ “Bible”, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio ridiculed the statement of Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha, Asungba Sangtam that he can be a “good facilitator” to the Naga political issue. “Asungba’s claim is an insult to Nagas since during his ten years as MP he had done nothing towards this end. If he talks at all, it will be only on Congress policies” Rio said. The Congressman would not dare to displease his Congress masters by raising the Naga issue, Rio remarked. Both Rio and Shurhozelie also said the DAN Government will support recognition of the rights of Naga people in Myanmar and assured to extend all possible help to “eastern Naga” –politically, economically and socially.
The chief minister who also addressed a rally at the Tuensang town hall on Saturday, hit out at the Congress for skipping the recent Naga consultative meeting held in Kohima. When all sections of the society including political parties and the Naga armed groups attended the meeting, Rio said, the state Congress leaders issued a press statement in Delhi, that they would not be able to attend the meeting.
This act of the Congress is ample proof that the party does not want Naga unity, unification and reconciliation, Rio said, and that the state Congress leaders are mere agents of the high command in Delhi.
In his address, the CM also recollected that in 2003, the then NDA Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had spent three days in Nagaland and had announced an economic package worth 1050 crores for Nagaland. Rio questioned whether a Congress PM had ever done such a thing in more than 50 years of the Congress ruling the country.
Instead the Congress did everything to create hurdles to stop the PM’s package, which was mainly meant for development of the backward areas, from materialising, Rio said.
CM Chang appealed the people of Tuensang to vote for him so that he can voice the aspirations of the Naga people in Parliament. Agriculture minister Dr. Chumben Murry and Land Resources minister P Longon also addressed the Tuensang rally. After the meeting at Tuensang town, the chief minister had a meeting with village leaders of Tuensang Village in the village panchayat hall in connection with the bye election for the vacant assembly seat. Rio is also scheduled to address a party rally at Kiphire on Monday.