The All India Congress Committee (AICC) Chairman of Screening Committee Mohan Prakash, AICC Member Screening Committee Sanjay Dutt, and AICC Secretary in-charge of Nagaland Ranajit Mukherjee called on NPF President Shürhozelie Liezietsü on Thursday in a courtesy visit accompanied by NPF Working President Thenucho Tunyi and shared concerns.
Rio is the puppet of the Central government and the BJP: Mohan Prakash
“Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is the puppet of the Central government and the BJP and they are blackmailing the state government while the sufferers are the entire State,” said AICC Chairman of the Screening Committee for Nagaland Election and former MP Mohan Prakash.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) team led by Chairman of the Screening Committee for Nagaland Election and former MP Mohan Prakash, AICC secretary & member screening committee Sanjay Dutt and AICC Secretary i/c Nagaland & Sikkim, Ranajit Mukherjee has been in Nagaland since January 10 in order to sketch a Congress electoral map for the upcoming election.
During the interactive session with Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) and its frontal organizations at Congress Bhavan in Kohima today, Prakash said that they are in the State to hold meetings with the party leaders and functionaries, and the aspiring candidates for the elections.
He expressed that though elections have not been announced, “The Central High Command of the Congress Party is very much keen to form the next government in Nagaland” and added that even if the Congress do not have a single MLA in the present House, “we will work to oust the incumbent government.”
Prakash also admitted to having interactions with like-minded political parties and politicians to fight together in order to remove the present government.
According to him, Nagaland is presently going through a difficult and challenging time because the present government is indulged in non-governance and corruption, while people are suffering.
Prakash further claimed that the BJP led Central government is working to remove 371(A) from Nagaland and trying to further divide the Nagas just as it had removed Article 370 of the Constitution from Kashmir.
He also charged the Centre of “fully cheating the Naga cause” and said “it would not bring any solution to the vexed Naga Political problem as they have no blueprint in their mind.”
“Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is the puppet of the Central government and the BJP and they are blackmailing the state government while the sufferers are the entire State,” he said adding that there has been total failure on all fronts including the development of infrastructure, education and roads and so on. Therefore, he believed that this election is for all to come together and give the signal to the nation for the benefit of Nagaland
“This is only a warming up exercise for the Congress and we are confident that the Congress along with other like-minded parties would oust the present government in the State,” the Congress leader said.
AICC attacks BJP’s ‘one nation one religion’ policy
Meanwhile, AICC secretary Dutt lashed out at the BJP government’s call for ‘one nation one religion’ and said that Nagaland is a state with real unity in diversity and its diverse ethnic message to the country is unification.
“Unfortunately, the BJP by bringing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has shown its true colour that it wants to divide the Nation on caste, religion and other parameters,” he said, and added that Congress will strongly stand up and be vocal against all such moves.
Dutt also expressed concern for the people of Nagaland and said that they have learnt about the concerns and issues of the Naga people through the engagements with various party leaders and functionaries.
BJP will have no place in Nagaland: NPCC
NPCC working president Khriedi Theünuo expressed the need of a secular and likeminded party to form the next government and opined that “Nagaland being a Christian state, Congress is the only party which can protect the religion of the Naga people.”
“BJP, which is fighting for only one religion, will have no place in Nagaland while Congress being a secular party will protect all minority groups and every section of the society in the country,” he said.
Theünuo also expressed confidence that the AICC leaders coming to the state will be a major boost to the Congress functionaries in the State ahead of the elections and said that NPCC is proud that AICC is serious about the state election and forming the next government.
The Congress leaders also met the Mahila and youth Congress leaders.