Mokokchung, September 17 (MTNews): The Central Youth Organization (CYO) of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) said today that it is appalled by the statement made by Dr S. C. Jamir which appeared in local daily papers on the 5th Sept 2022 and circulated in social media under the caption, “When solution comes, Muivah or Rio money factor will vanish, says veteran Jamir.”
The NDPP youth wing in a press release said that such a statement was never anticipated from Jamir at this given point of time when the whole Naga people know his role in the Nagaland State Political history. “It is high time for Mr. S. C. Jamir to call it a day. Otherwise his role in the history of our movement will be recalled again and again,” it said. “Incidents like his letter to Nehru against peaceful solution and his opposition to peace talks all through his career cannot be denied. He refused to welcome the ceasefire during his chief ministership and vehemently opposed the negotiations,” the NDPP youth wing added.
It went on to say that Jamir was against the Framework Agreement but has now taken a u-turn and is now talking about (How the) MLAS must resign. “He maintained his distance from national political groups during his rule and opposed the equi-closeness policy of the regional party. He even joined the NPF with his son at one time for opportunity and position. When the BJP led NDA government came to power in Delhi, he went to the extent of canvassing for position by changing his colors. It was always the politics of opportunism for him,” the press release further read.
It reminded that in 2003, Neiphiu Rio left the Congress regime led by Jamir against the backdrop of “thoughtless and distorted” booklet of the Bedrock of Naga Society which was authored by SC Jamir himself and published by the Congress Party. Rio went on to lead the regional party Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) and fought the elections against Congress Government who had an overwhelming 57 ruling MLAs and won the mandate of the masses and became the Chief Minister, it said.
It further said that in 2008, with the general election only weeks away, the UPA Government at the Centre, led by the Congress party, gifted the people of Nagaland with President’s Rule on the advice of Jamir to fulfill his oblivious prediction that Rio’s government will fall like a house of cards. “Despite a de-facto and proxy rule of Congress under President’s rule, and all forces working against the regional party, the wisdom and courage of the Naga people emerged victorious as the Congress was rejected in the democratic elections, as the regional party prevailed with a bigger mandate and the leadership of Mr. Rio was upheld by the electorate,” it said.
Then, it said that in 2013, the Congress was further humiliated as it won only 7 seats in the assembly elections and the regional party won a record 38 seats, electing Rio as chief minister for an unprecedented third term. “However, with a deep desire to carry the voice of the Nagas in the Indian Parliament and in the national political scene, Rio sacrificed the chief minister’s chair and decided to represent us in the Lok Sabha as an MP,” the NDPP youth wing said.
It also said that Rio responded to the call of the people to return to the State which was also the desire of the Central leadership. Together with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rio campaigned during the 2018 elections and the Nagas responded positively electing the NDPP-BJP Alliance with a majority mandate and Rio became chief minister for a record fourth term in the presence of central leaders, it further said.
The NDPP Central Youth Organization (CYO) also reminded that the Congress party was in absolute majority with a virtual opposition-less government; however, they were defeated. “In 2008, despite President’s Rule, the Congress was rejected by the people. In the 2018 election, the NPF government, ruled by an opposition-less establishment with 60 members in ruling, met the same fate and was voted out. This proves the fact that the Jamir philosophy of ruling and winning elections with money and power holds no water,” it said. “Perhaps under his regime he may have followed such a formula but the Rio leadership is through the front door of democracy with the mandate of the people,” the NDPP CYO added.