Dimapur, July 21 (MExN): The Congress party has termed the statements on the extension of the Disturbed Area Act (DAA) made by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and Rajya Sabha MP, Khekiho Zhimomi as “contradictory,” and that it has proved their “confusion in understanding of the issue.” It further questioned why the government has failed to explain the extension of DAA to the entire State when it covered and area of 20 kms belt earlier; and whether the official letter dated June 9, 2011 by the Special Secretary to the Government of Nagaland in response to the MHA’s letter dated May 25, 2011 was the Cabinet’s decision. “If the State Cabinet had not recommended it as stated by the CMO, why is it afraid to make public the copy of its decision,” the Congress questioned.
A note received from the NPCC media cell accused the CMO’s of projecting Nagaland in poor light by stating that Nagaland was the cause for promulgation of AFSPA in the whole northeast, and that such statements should be condemned by all the Nagas. The Congress pointed out that the AFSPA was promulgated in different states and extended from time to time under their own given situations and not as stated by the CMO. The Congress stated that that DAA was first promulgated in 1972 after the assassination attempt on the life of Late Dr. Hokishe Sema, the then Chief Minister of Nagaland near Kohima, and not in 1995 as stated by the MP; adding it is not the Congress but the MP who should get his facts straight. “It is unfortunate that a person of his stature could term the prevailing scenario of Nagaland situation as peace. It may be peace to protected people like him but to the common man, it is total chaos,” the Congress stated.
The Congress further noted that threat and intimidation, rapes and molestations, rampant extortions, kidnappings for ransom, daylight robberies, killings, sky-rocketing price rise, etc are making the towns of Nagaland, especially Dimapur unlivable. Such a situation has also proved wrong the NPF’s claim that Nagaland is an island of peace, the Congress claimed; adding that “the immeasurable sufferings of the public had prompted the GoI to exercise its wisdom in extending the DAA to the entire State.” “Citing artificial peace under the garb of ceasefire as the sole reason by the State Government for opposing the extension of DAA was not accepted by the GoI as sufficient ground to lift the DAA, keeping in view the prevailing situation that affects the day-to-day lives of the common man,” the Congress claimed. The NPF-led DAN should do its homework first in containing the law and order problem before questioning the wisdom of the UPA government,” the Congress added.
A note received from the NPCC media cell accused the CMO’s of projecting Nagaland in poor light by stating that Nagaland was the cause for promulgation of AFSPA in the whole northeast, and that such statements should be condemned by all the Nagas. The Congress pointed out that the AFSPA was promulgated in different states and extended from time to time under their own given situations and not as stated by the CMO. The Congress stated that that DAA was first promulgated in 1972 after the assassination attempt on the life of Late Dr. Hokishe Sema, the then Chief Minister of Nagaland near Kohima, and not in 1995 as stated by the MP; adding it is not the Congress but the MP who should get his facts straight. “It is unfortunate that a person of his stature could term the prevailing scenario of Nagaland situation as peace. It may be peace to protected people like him but to the common man, it is total chaos,” the Congress stated.
The Congress further noted that threat and intimidation, rapes and molestations, rampant extortions, kidnappings for ransom, daylight robberies, killings, sky-rocketing price rise, etc are making the towns of Nagaland, especially Dimapur unlivable. Such a situation has also proved wrong the NPF’s claim that Nagaland is an island of peace, the Congress claimed; adding that “the immeasurable sufferings of the public had prompted the GoI to exercise its wisdom in extending the DAA to the entire State.” “Citing artificial peace under the garb of ceasefire as the sole reason by the State Government for opposing the extension of DAA was not accepted by the GoI as sufficient ground to lift the DAA, keeping in view the prevailing situation that affects the day-to-day lives of the common man,” the Congress claimed. The NPF-led DAN should do its homework first in containing the law and order problem before questioning the wisdom of the UPA government,” the Congress added.
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