On misleading statements made by NPF :: NDPP

28th August, 2018, Kohima

The NDPP is issuing this press release in response to the misleading statements made by the NPF spokesperson which appeared in sections of the media on 28th August, 2018.

It is difficult to understand the mindset of the NPF and its leadership when the party decides to respond to the Independence Day Speech of the Chief Minister without any intellectual content and lacking in any substantive facts, after close to two weeks of the speech being delivered.

1) The NPF has no moral authority to raise the issue of transparency, accountability and VIP culture as the NPF regime under its unmandated leaders in the past four years was the epitome of corruption, manipulation and deceit. It’s leaders and party office bearers crisscrossed the roads with VIP lights, designation plates, escorts and bodyguards with no regard for the common citizens and conducted themselves as super VIPs instead of serving the people. The changed scenario now is there for everybody to see and experience and does not need any elaboration. The PDA Government is against VIP culture and it will continue to take steps in removing the symbols and habits of VIP culture in every possible way.

2) It is an acknowledged fact that the people of the State are suffering from immense difficulties due to heavy rainfall and connectivity to many areas have been adversely impacted. In the face of such natural calamities, the PDA Government has left no stone unturned in its endeavour to carry out relief, rehabilitation and extend logistical support. Emergency services, disaster management teams, relief operations and humanitarian aid have been activated like never before. All members of displaced families have been given relief and financial aid for 30 days as per NDMA guidelines and the NSDMA is carrying out assessment of damaged properties for onward submission to the higher authorities. Nowhere has a humanitarian crisis taken place due to calamities.

3) Perhaps the NPF should also appreciate that all PDA elected Members and party officials in official positions have all contributed one month’s salary towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Also, the rank and file of the party organizations of the PDA coalition parties generously contributed towards relief operations. The members of the PDA coordination committee also contributed generously and even carried out relief distribution activities including reaching out to the impacted sections to take first hand reports of the response of the government agencies.

4) We do not want to publicize our charitable activities, but since the NPF has made it into an issue, perhaps they would also do well to let the public know what humanitarian activities they have undertaken to ease the lives of those who are suffering? Isn’t the opposition and all political parties equally responsible towards the plight of our own people? Aren’t we all in the service of the people and haven’t we committed to serve the public?

5) On the first day of being sworn in, the PDA Government had taken a decision to begin the repair and renovation of the roads in the district headquarters within 60 days. This exercise began on a war footing and was progressing very well but challenges and conditions beyond anybody’s control came in the way of this enormous task. The Lok Sabha elections imposed a model code of conduct for more than a month and the heavy incessant rains created havoc stopping all repair and renovation works as the government agencies and machineries were directed towards emergency and relief operations all over the State. This is the reality that cannot be denied. The PDA Government assures that it’s commitment of good roads will not go undone, however it is only appropriate that we first combat the calamities first and then wait for the rains to subside or else it will be wasteful effort and expenditure.

6) On the matter of law and order, the State has returned to an environment of peace and tranquility. At times, certain incidents do take place but the law enforcing agencies have been alert and alive to the situation. We have not allowed any situation to get out of hand and the government’s agencies will continue to remain alive to any given situation in close coordination with civil society.

7) On the matter of a few agitations that have emerged, we would like to make it clear that we are assessing each issue in a just and impartial manner. The fact of the matter is that we are only trying to clear the mess and confusion created by the previous regimes of the last four years. We assure the people that we will approach every issue without any favouritism and justice in a practical and realistic manner will be delivered so that all stakeholders are taken on board.

8) The NPF will do well not to point fingers at others as the PDA Government is unraveling many discrepancies and malpractices of the previous regimes. We are trying the streamline the system, restore good governance and ensure transparency, but we may be compelled to reveal and expose the activities of the NPF governments of the last four years, where their leaders enjoyed power, misused their positions and led the State towards a downswing at the expense of somebody else’s mandate.

9) It is amusing to note that the NPF and Mr. TR Zeliang claiming responsibility for the initiatives of the PDA Government even as it grapples with the failures of being a responsible opposition. It has no moral authority to claim responsibility when its leader has been exposed for filing false affidavit and claiming false educational qualification whereby the entire State has been embarrassed due to Mr. TR Zeliang’s lie that he had graduated from Kohima college under NEHU when both the Kohima College and the NEHU had declared in the court that there is no record of Mr. TR Zeliang having passed from their institutions. Rather they declared that they only have records of him having failed. Despite these undeniable facts, the NPF party and its leadership have declared Mr. TR Zeliang to be the “Chief Minister in waiting”. This is the present state of affairs in the NPF today! This is just one of the many reasons why we say that the NPF has no moral authority to question others.

10) On the issue of ULB elections and women’s reservations, the NPF will do well to either remain silent or apologize to the Naga people for the fiasco it created and for taking the entire Naga society into a deep state of crisis. The uprising of the Naga people and the spontaneous protests of the masses against the then NPF regime are testimony of the facts that the NPF had little regard for the welfare and feelings for the people other than their own personal benefits. The NPF Spokesperson must in fact think twice before advising the government on how to resolve the issue since it is well known how the NPF betrayed the people represented by the Tribal Hohos by going back on the agreement between the then Chief Minister and the Hohos represented by the JAC in less than 24 hours of signing it! As for the PDA Government, we have already instituted a Cabinet Committee on Women’s Reservations and ULB elections and we will take all stakeholders on board with extensive deliberations and discussions before any decision is taken. We will protect the interest, rights and culture of our people under all circumstances.

11) Likewise, on the matter of illegal immigrants and ILP too, we have set up a high-powered committee and all necessary steps and mechanisms have been put in place to face any eventuality.

12) The Independence Day speech of the PDA Government was visionary, ground breaking and contained several new initiatives aimed a starting a new era of progressive development in Nagaland. However, it is also only a small glimpse of the new roadmap of development that the PDA Government has charted out for Nagaland in the near and coming future.

13) We assure the people that the PDA Government will make every possible effort to work for the welfare of the people and we are committed towards bringing positive change and we appeal to all sections of the people to come forward and partner us in this new and exciting journey ahead and not be distracted by the false and misleading intentions of failed leaders seeking publicity to be in the limelight.

( Issued by NDPP Media & Communication Committee )