Rejoinder to NPF from NDPP [01 September 2018]

01st September, 2018 ; Kohima

The press statement issued by the NPF in response to the clear and factual statement given by NDPP is nothing short of shocking and has taken the political arena to a new low. The NDPP has issued a detailed point-by-point statement in response to the NPF spokesperson’s baseless allegations that did not contain any authenticated allegations but were filled with allegations that sounded more like making some periodical noise for the sake of being in the opposition. Even then the NDPP responded with details and facts so that the people are not misled.

1) Senior leaders and members of PDA partner parties have been appointed to various government positions following all norms to carry out good governance and connect with the grassroots. All the persons appointed are acknowledged leaders, having respectable credentials with experience and expertise in various fields apart from political seniority.

2) These persons include former elected members, ex-ministers, accomplished members from the bureaucracy and the fourth estate, persons with civil society experience, etc. Each person comes with decades of experience with vast knowledge and we are hopeful that they will contribute towards better governance and improve the delivery system.

3) As for the PDA Government, we are committed to the people and the various appointees are not going to cost the State’s exchequer with any additional burden. The State Government is continuously making efforts to reduce government expenditure, curb excess spending of public funds and enforce austerity measures.

4) The NPF will do well to remember that during its regime in the past four years, they had appointed several of its functionaries to various government positions who enjoyed position and status but with minimal output and no contribution whatsoever.

5) The NPF which never misses the opportunity to remind one and all that it is one of the oldest regional parties in the northeast with tall claims of history, but its latest statement where it used words like “nonsensical” and “chamchas” gives the people of Nagaland what it’s leadership is made up of and exposes the mindset and the mentality of the NPF party and at the same time exposes the state of affairs in the NPF.

A responsible party or person should not even have the word “chamchas” in the vocabulary. In today’s environment, such terms are derogatory, discriminatory and uncivilised. If the NPF is at all serious about its image, it needs to apologise to the people of Nagaland for setting the wrong example and taking our polity to the lowest levels possible.

6) The NDPP will never stoop so low nor will we ever undermine the wisdom of the people. We will conduct ourselves with responsibility, respect for others and will always uphold the feelings of the people and we respect the fact that the people are the best judge.

( Issued by NDPP Media & Communication Committee )