Maintain decision to do away with VIP culture, NVCO requests new state government

Urges new state government to avoid corruption

Kohima, March 5 (MTNews): While welcoming the new government of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) along with its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) likely to assume office on March 7, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumer Organization (NVCO) has urged the state government to continue with its earlier decision of doing away with VIP culture.

The NVCO has further urged the government not to deduct any percentage or commission from developmental project funds, completely avoid backdoor appointments, not to propose creation of ex-cadre to be associated with the Chief Minister’s Office of Nagaland, not to appoint non-legislators as advisors at the rank of cabinet and minister of state, not to reconsider blanket ban on taxes levied on highways, to protect Christian community from persecution and violence, etc,.

The NVCO also urged the new government, especially the politicians, advisors, ministers and others not to deduct any amount by way of percentage or commission or in the name of Party Fund from developmental project funds.

The Nagaland Voluntary Consumer Organization (NVCO) president Kezhokhoto Savi in a statement has also urged the state government to ban fund raising activities including sale of food items, calendar, lottery, buffet tickets, etc., selling at an exorbitant rate describing it as “daylight robbery” which he said also leads to price-rise. The NVCO also urged unions, organizations, and associations to avoid fund drives and donations.

Stating that the recent election to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election was expensive where the scenario was “only money power won,” the NVCO also urged the watchdog organizations, associations, and RTI activists to be on the watch out and not compromise with corruption “as corruption is likely going to be more.”

Further, the NVCO claimed that there are many incidents of persecution and violence against Christian community in the country. “No state is secure in the hands of these cruel people, including Nagaland, where churches are continuously being destroyed and many missionaries, pastors or church workers are hiding in the jungle especially in the mainland,” NVCO said. In Assam, it said, the RSS- affiliate JDSSM (Janajati Dharma-Sanskritti Suraksha Manch) was protesting and demanding removal of Christians from ST list.

“Therefore, once again, taking advantage of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and host of BJP leaders likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony on March 7 to be held at Capital Cultural Centre, Kohima, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization (NVCO) urge them to have mercy upon the Christian community as one of the minorities by not allowing laws which is within the state prerogative such as Freedom of Religion Act or anti-conversion laws,” NVCO appealed.