Zeliang reacts to Karnataka polls
Source: The Sangai Express / NNN
Dimapur, May 17 2018:
Nagaland former Chief Minister, TR Zeliang commented today on the turn of events after the recently held Karnataka Assembly elections while wandering as to how different States in India could follow different Constitution of the same country.
"Should the law of the country be distorted according to the convenience and advantage of a certain political party," he questioned.
The former Chief Minister of Nagaland said that while the NPF, with 26 members, was the single largest party in the recently concluded Assembly Election in Nagaland, it was not accorded the same privilege which the BJP party led by BS Yeddyurappa was given in Karnataka on account of being the single largest party.
"Why NPF led Government was not allowed to be formed in Nagaland then?" he asked.
TR Zeliang then made scathing attacks against Neiphiu Rio led PDA Government for the "hypocritical acts practiced" in just two months of being in power.
While addressing public gathering at Wokha town and Longmisa village as part of the campaign tour for the upcoming Lok Sabha bye-elections, Zeliang said that the PDA promise of 'quality, transparency and accountability' became clearly visible in just two months time.
Saying on how the "much-hyped anti-VIP culture has become mere lip service even as the PDA Government made several appointments while putting unlimited stress on the State exchequer", TR Zeliang charged the "two-faced PDA Government" of practicing "backdoor VIP appointments" .
TR Zeliang then called upon the Nagas to vote for NPF candidate, C.Apok Jamir and show critics that NPF Party was the only party that represented the voice of the Nagas.
"We have to show the world that the mandate of the Nagas is with the NPF Party," he stated.
Stressing on how important it is for the Lok Sabha representative to be from a regional party who will have no obligation to any high command but focus on the welfare of the State and its people, the Leader of Opposition said that with the experience that Apok Jamir has, as an ex-MP of Rajya Sabha 1998-2004 and two times Legislator in the State, the Nagas will significantly benefit by sending him to Parliament as the Lok Sabha representative.
"Unlike other times, more importance should be given to the upcoming Parliamentary Elections and we must elect C.Apok Jamir as he will be representing the entire Naga race at the Parliament," he said.
While taking a dig at PDA Government for its infamous slogan 'change is coming', Zeliang said that real change has to come from inside and not from outside.
"It has to start from top to bottom not from bottom to top," he said.
Huska Yepthomi, NPF Working President, speaking at Longmisa village, Mokokchung alleged that Rio deceived the whole Nagas by going to Lok Sabha with the promise that he would work for the welfare of the Nagas while the fact was that his attendance in Parliament was not even 10% of the total working days.
"What issues did he raise in Parliament for the Nagas," he queried.