Kohima, 1 May (MTNews): The Nagaland Congress in response to the criticism meted out to Dr SC Jamir by NDPP Central Youth Wing, not only defended and hailed its senior leader for speaking ‘facts’ but slammed the ruling NDPP for abdicating its responsibility on its youth wing.
According to the Congress, the ruling NDPP instead of responding to Dr Jamir has abdicated its responsibility on its youth wing to make vitriolic and sweeping statements against an elder and respected personality which is another example of how ‘abdication of responsibility under the current regime has become the hallmark’.
In a press release issued on Monday, the state Congress said that NDPP Youth’s statement has “rightly highlighted how governance in Nagaland has been abdicated and outsourced,” adding, “As future political leaders, the youth wing has to accept that things are not going right.”
“As upcoming future political leaders those in the NDPP Youth Wing should be concerned about the current mess created by leaders who are seeped up with filthy riches and practicing nepotism and favoritism. It is hoped that the youth will wake up and realize it is time to focus on the present and future of Nagaland,” the Congress added.
Stating that Dr Jamir does not need to defend himself as what he has said are facts which speak for themselves, the NPCC said it is “constrained to respond to the unwarranted insinuation on the reputation of Dr SC Jamir by some persons operating behind the scene of NDPP Youth Wing.”
“Dr Jamir has retired from active politics and today speaks on what he feels strongly about the fate and future of the people of Nagaland. If his observation, based on his rich political and administrative experiences spanning over 60 years is unpalatable to some sections, then he cannot be faulted for that,” the Congress argued while clarifying that they are not issuing the statement on behalf of Dr Jamir.
The party highlighted how Dr Jamir worked under India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and has held various important positions in Delhi under Nehru and later Indira Gandhi and reminded that he was among the founding fathers of the state of Nagaland and also a veteran national politician who is still alive.
“Despite different political background, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown high regard for Dr Jamir for his outstanding contribution to the nation,” the Congress stated and claimed that “the Congress is proud that Dr Jamir and former NPCC president K Therie have been speaking out openly on important matter when other choose to speak in ambiguous language.”
“His comments about the state of affairs perpetrate economic hegemony and confusion and drift taking place today,” the Congress said, while demanding that the NDPP as the ruling government should answer why the regional party, “since 2003 has failed to deliver on every promise such as-solution to Naga political issue within three months of coming to power made in 2003; the abdication of constitutional authority which has invited legitimizing the action of various extra constitutional authorities.”
“The sum total of the achievements of the party which untiringly parrots itself as a pro-people movement has only led to Nagaland earning the dubious reputation as the worst performing state overall in India in 2021,” the Congress said.
The Congress further accused the regional party of messing up oil exploration, for being afraid to act on recommendation on RIIN, and for taking no action on multiple taxation and governance despite the HPC submitting its report in 2016.
“The only decisive action is for construction of multi crore rupee projects, to benefit a privileged few coterie close to the powers that be,” the Congress said.
The Congress also pointed out that it was unfortunate that the NDPP Youth Wing has blamed Dr Jamir’s government for the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 and explained that during that period, Chief Minister Rio was Home Minister under Dr Jamir’s government and that NMA 2001 was part of the decision ‘taken collectively since Nagaland wanted to create new municipal bodies’.
“The current controversy under ULB Pools is not due to Dr Jamir but in 2006 the ruling government adopted the 74th Amendment of the constitution that automatically incorporated the inclusion of 33% women reservation in ULB. In 2010, the ULB pool was deferred, because of objections to women reservation from various organizations,” the Congress clarified.
The Congress highlighted that the ruling government attempted to get away by making another amendment in 2022 to not include the reservation; however, the matter was taken to court and later to the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition filed by some Naga women representatives.
“The Supreme Court has issued an ultimatum on the Rio government to fulfill its commitment for holding ULB pools with 33% women reservation,” the Congress said, adding that in March 2022, the ruling government recommended that the pending elections to civic bodies in Nagaland should be conducted according to the 74th Amendment Act of the Constitution of India, which mandates 33% reservation for women in civic bodies.
The Nagaland government assured the court that it will hold ULB Polls and accordingly issued a notification on March 9 to hold polls by May 16.
However, the government once again took another U-turn when it passed the Nagaland Municipal Act (Repel Bill 2023) on March 28, to defer holding of polls.
“This has only invited contempt of court by saying it will enact a suitable act. In this regard Dr Jamir asked that with contempt of court by the government, the issue is whatever the present oppositionless government can remain in power? Hopefully those having concern for the welfare of people will realize that the wake-up call made by Dr Jamir included the former NPCC president K Therie and several other prominent people of the state realized the consequences of the present situation to the future,” the Congress added.
The Congress further asked the Civil Societies, NGOs and Organizations to come out with the concrete and permanent rectified proposal to the government to bring out early solutions to ULB Polls in the state.
