‘Operation Lotus’ led Nagaland astray: AICC

January 24, 2023 38 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kohima | January 24

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) today alleged that ‘Operation Lotus’ of the BJP in collusion with the Nagaland State Government has led the state astray. It said that Nagaland’s coalition government with “scams after scams under its belt” has betrayed the people of Nagaland in the name of developments, joining hands with the BJP.

During a press conference this afternoon at Congress Bhavan, Kohima, AICC Media Coordinator, Mahima Singh stated that ‘Operation Lotus’ has not only found roots in the state, but also expanded so much that the CM of the State sits before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the wrongdoing of his own, and the fallouts and shortcomings of his government.

Nagaland High Court ‘scam’
In 2007, Singh said when Congress was in the centre, necessary amendments were made to the Constitution effected in 2012 wherein arrangements were made for independent High Courts for Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur.

However, till today, Nagaland is bereft of the promise and commitment that the government had made while financial sanctions worth Rs 70 cr have been made by the State Government, she said.

“What a farce the Rio government in collusion with BJP tried to play on the people of Nagaland, the learned advocates of Nagaland and on the whole the justice system of Nagaland,” Singh said.

While stating that the CM should have resigned on ethical grounds, Singh said that the State Government “continues to siphon off public money while Rio and his many allies face interrogation at ED.”

“This Rs 70 cr High Court scam had actually turned into a major gateway for Operation Lotus to find its way to Nagaland like other states in the country where BJP has sabotaged the people’s interest across the country in the name of development,” alleged Singh.

Nagaland not a solitary case for ‘blackmail’
“Operation Lotus struck its roots in Nagaland in 2018 because they could blackmail the extremely corrupt Rio government,” Singh stated.

While making a conjecture on how the 40:20 ratio was agreed upon in 2018, Singh said that the people of Nagaland were “already being cheated upon” by the State Government. She claimed that representatives are now “blackmailed by the centre.”

Singh claimed that the NDPP paved way for ‘Operation Lotus’ to enter Nagaland in 2018 following the PIL filed against the High Court ‘scam’ in 2017 by the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) in 2017.

30:30 ratio will be end of fundamental rights
With the fallout within the BJP party for 30:30 ratio, Singh commented “now, they are fighting for 30:30.” She expressed concern that “if this happens and if they are allowed to expand, it is going to be worse. It will open a gateway for sabotaging of the fundamental rights of the people of the state.”

“If 30:30 happens…it’s going to be the end of the fundamental rights as it’s going to be the onset of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Uniform Civil Code (UCC).” she maintained.

“On the brink of ensuing election, Rio and his partners land before the ED being probed for severe corruption in the High Court scam, but nonetheless allowing the Centre to remote control Nagaland by misappropriating agencies so that draconian laws like CAA and UCC may be imposed upon the innocent people of Nagaland, that are bound to trample their fundamental rights” the AICC media coordinator stated.

“The people of Nagaland must defeat in 2023 by voting out the NDPP and its blackmailer allies from the centre to save Nagaland from becoming like Assam, Manipur, Goa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh,” Singh said.

While acknowledging that the Congress has been out of the system for the past 20 years, she said as a secular party, it is committed to protect fundamental rights of the people to the last breathe. “We may or may not come back in power and may or may not win the election, but we will ensure that public mandate prevails over all sorts of foul play by enlightening and awakening the power hidden in the democratic populace of Nagaland,” Singh stated.