Don’t undermine Nagas’ intellect: Rio

DIMAPUR, February 15 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that Congress has demeaned the Naga political issue by saying that they will bring political solution if voted back to power. This assurance was given by both Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, according to a press note received here.

Rio questioned what the Congress was doing all these years when they were running the government both at the Centre and at the State. Even the present ceasefire is 16 years old and the current Congress government at Delhi has been at the helm for nine years.

The NPF leader also regretted that in fifty years of Nagaland statehood, the Congress and the Central government have failed to give any national or regional institute to Nagaland and now they are offering tablets and laptops to the youth. “It’s an insult to the intellect of our youth”, Rio said.

The Congress manifesto had announced free laptops for students above class 11 and free tablet PCs for class nine students.
Rio also questioned why the Central Congress leaders could not make commitments to the Naga people that higher education colleges would be given to Naga youth instead of promising “lollipops” in the form of tablets and laptops. “They have no vision nor any genuine concern for our youth”, the press note quoted Rio.

The Chief Minister was addressing election rallies at Mon in the morning and at Tuensang in the afternoon. Also speaking at the rallies, former Congress Legislature Party leader and Congress MLA, Chingwang Konyak stated that the Congress is making statements that they are united, but the reality is, that they are more divided than ever before.

He reiterated that the people in the districts of Mon, Tuensang, Longleng and Kiphire are appreciative of the initiatives of the Rio government. He cited the examples of the establishment of DUDA and women department and initiatives in youth empowerment. He also stated that the global community has come to know of the Nagas and appreciate our culture and heritage due to DAN government’s several steps in promoting and preserving Naga culture and heritage.