Kharge said: BJP govt has no will to solve Naga political issue

Dimapur: Congress president Mallikarjan Kharge said the Narendra Modi government has no political will to implement the agreed solution to resolve the Naga political issue.

Addressing an election rally at Diphupar village grounds here on Tuesday afternoon, Kharge recalled that PM Modi had announced on August 3, 2015 that the Naga issue had been resolved with the signing of the ‘Naga Accord’. Later named as ‘Framework Agreement.’
“After almost eight years, it has become an empty boast. There is nothing on the ground,” he said.
He said that though all the civil societies, especially the All Nagaland Gaon Burah Federation, had demanded the implementation of a political solution, the present state government was involved in delaying tactics on the pretext that further talks were needed. He said that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio should tell the people of Nagaland about his real intention.
He said this “thematic issue” was not even covered in the 41-page BJP manifesto for Nagaland.
Kharge said that it was the Congress that initiated the process to find a solution to the Naga political problem. “Even now, this is one of the biggest promises of the Congress party in our manifesto,” he said.

He alleged that the BJP was bent on creating division within Nagaland and abrogating the provisions of Article 371 (A) that would pave the way for the smooth implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, which was part of the party’s divisive agenda. It is the basic foundation.
Stating that BJP’s politics is aimed at destroying the indigenous and unique culture of Nagas, Kharge said the people of Nagaland should stand against this attack on Nagaland’s culture and the politics of polarization and hatred.
On the contribution of Congress in the development of Nagaland, the Congress chief said that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru announced in Parliament on 1 August 1959 the decision to convert the Naga Hills Tuensang area into the state of Nagaland, which was formally inaugurated on 1 December 1963. At the highest level on the Naga issue.
He said that the welfare of the state of Nagaland has always been the highest priority for the Congress and we assure you that it will always remain so.

Pointing to the failures of the BJP-NDPP state government, Kharge said that while the high court buildings in Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura were completed in 2013, Nagaland is still yet to complete the high court building. Awaiting, the foundation stone of which was laid by the Supreme Court. UPA government in 2007 along with three other states.
He added that the failure of the state government has also adversely affected the completion and functioning of the proposed medical colleges in the state.
Kharge also outlined the Congress party’s promises for the development of eastern Nagaland and assured the implementation of seven guarantees given to the people of Nagaland such as old-age pension of Rs 3,000 per month for senior citizens, women in urban bodies. 33 percent reservation for, etc. If they come to power by voting.

Kharge also spoke on burning national issues such as inflation, high unemployment rate, attack on democratic institutions and economic situation.