Cong ready for verbal duel with BJP on 3 conditions

February 18, 2023 51 Views No Comment

Jairam Ramesh says MGNREGA has turned into nothing but ‘loot’ in Nagaland

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 18

The back and forth between arch rivals— the BJP and Indian National Congress does not seem to be losing steam as election day draws nearer in Nagaland. Congress stalwart and Rajya Sabha Member, Jairam Ramesh accepted the challenge from the BJP for a verbal duel on the two parties’ election manifestoes.

Ramesh, who is also the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary, in-charge of the Communications Department told a press conference in Dimapur, on February 17, that the Congress is ready to accept the challenge. But it can happen only if the BJP clarifies its stand on three issues. The BJP’s ‘election for solution’ pledge of 2018 and the Framework Agreement, protection of Article 371 (A) and condemning the Guwahati-based Janajati Dharma-Sanskriti Suraksha Manch’s (JDSSM) demand for delisting of tribal Christians.

He said, “I want to ask the BJP Where is the solution?The only conclusion is election for confusion, not election for solution. On 3 August 2015, a philosophical statement called the Framework Agreement was signed. 8 years later, the people of Nagaland are still awaiting the so called solution that Modi promised.”

He also demanded assurance that the BJP “will not disturb Article 371 (A) in letter and spirit,” while asking whether the BJP will condemn and dissociate itself from the JDSSM’s “dangerous statements on reservation.”

“Without clarification on these three issues, any debate on a manifesto is pointless, meaningless and a waste of time,” Ramesh held.

Besides these, he called for the BJP’s stand on the Uniform Civil Code as far as Nagaland is concerned. According to him, the BJP has promised UCC in its manifestoes in other states as opposed to theJustice (retired) BS Chauhan chaired Law Commission’s 2018 report on the UCC. He added that the Commission, which was appointed by the Modi government, has noted “that the UCC is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage.”

Terming the last 5 years of the BJP-NDPP government as a “story of broken promises,” he claimed that the Congress is the only party that can protectthe religious, cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity of Nagaland. The Congress is in the midst of transformation and “inthis transformation of the Congress lies transformation of the environment of the state of Nagaland,” he said.

On the development front, he said that the BJP-NDPP combine has failed to deliver on many sectors, particularly good road connectivity, reliable electricity and adequate sports facilities. “They talk of Jal Jeevan Mission, there is no jal. The time has come for the people to recognise that they have been betrayed by the BJP and its B-team allies,” he said.

7 ‘guarantees’
The NPCC President K Therie released what was said to be the ‘7 Guarantees’ of the Congress to the people of Nagaland. It included pension for senior citizens, 33 percent reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Mini Secretariat in Tuensang, 100 percent wages under MGNREGA, zero interest loans for higher education, clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for all and compulsory sports training after HSLC.

Commenting on the impact of the MGNREGA in Nagaland, Jairam Ramesh said that the Act, contrary to its objective, has transformed into a vessel of “loot” for the Rural Development Department.He said, “I confidently say that this Act in Nagaland is nothing but loot. It is loot by the BDOs, some of whom have got elected in 2018 and became Ministers.”

Women reservation
Asked whether the Congress would backtrack on its commitment to reservation of women in ULBs, if there are protests like in 2017, NPCC President K Therie maintained, “There is no reason why we will back out from what we have committed and I am sure people will understand the importance of women in decision-making.”

Jairam Ramesh also maintained that it would in no way weaken or compromise or subvert Article 371 (A). While stating that it has been done in other states, he said that the Rajya Sabha has passed it under the UPA government. On the other hand, the BJP has made no effort to pass it in the Lok Sabha, he claimed.