Centre was committed to speedy growth of Nagaland

BJP national president J.P. Nadda addressed a rally at Old Riphyim village in Wokha district during the day and later, attended a meeting with state level party workers at Capital Cultural Hall Kohima where he spoke about the “double engine” growth of the NDA government in leading the country to peace and prosperity.
At Old Riphyim, Nadda asserted that under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi, the Centre was committed to resolve all disputes in the north east. He cited the signing of various peace accords in Assam which have transformed the region into a hub of development and insurgency-free as against in the past when people suffered from terrorism, infiltration, bandhs and protests, blockades, drug trafficking and corruption.

On Naga issue, Nadda said there were “certain issues and we are working on them.” He said ceasefire agreements between the Central government and three Naga groups were extended by a year on April 19, 2022.
He said under NDA thousands of crores of rupees have been invested in the region for infrastructure development, while work on connecting all North-eastern State Capitals with rail network was going on at a brisk pace. He said work on connecting the North-eastern State Capitals with four-lane roads, district headquarters with two lane-road and villages with all-weather roads too was progressing rapidly.

Nadda assured that the Centre was committed to speedy growth of Nagaland, while consistent efforts of the government had improved security situation in the Northeast, resulting in a historic decision of the Centre to reduce areas with the “disturbed areas” tag under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland.
He also paid rich tributes to freedom fighters from Nagaland who had fought valiantly against the British to protect the people with support of villagers, noting that Naga people had fought for protection of their culture and traditions.

He recalled how Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had established first Azad Hind-administered village at Ruzazho in Naga Hills and expressed his gratitude to present tribal leaders of Nagaland for protecting the tribal culture of Nagaland.

Noting that Nagaland was home to 16 tribes and how all the tribes had been fighting to conserve their culture, the BJP president asserted that only Modi had the courage to truly address the problems and issues of a tribal society.

In his brief address, deputy chief minister Y Patton acknowledged the Prime Minister and all central BJP leadership for giving special attention to Nagaland.

Patton hoped that BJP would perform better in the 2023 Assembly election, claiming that Nagas were content with the party’s leadership, Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for recognising the Naga Political Issue. Later in Kohima, BJP president while addressing State Level Workers at Capital Cultural Hall Kohima reiterated that the party stood committed to and will adhere to the seat sharing formula of 40(NDPP) and 20(BJP) in the forthcoming assembly election.

In what was seen as a snub on BJP state legislature party leader and deputy chief minister Y.Patton, who was all for a 30:30 seat sharing formula with NDPP, Nadda said that the decision to on seat sharing by the central leadership should be respected and called upon the karyakartas to have faith in the party leadership.
Nadda said development of North East region remains as the top area of priority for the BJP for which various transformations with the emphasis on infrastructure development had been carried out in the North East region.

He maintained that BJP as a political party not only talk politics but also focuses on ‘Seva’ citing the example of COVID- 19 pandemic where lakhs of BJP party workers helped the people across the nation.
Nadda also referred to prime minster Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, when he made a clarion call for respecting women and changing the mentality towards the woman. Nadda said that only through the participation of women will the nation will grow.

He also described BJP workers as ambassadors for society and “seva”, he urged the members to be work for all the people of the society.

Nadda informed that BJP has decided to observe “Seva Pakhwada” (a fortnight of service), on September 17 marking the birthday celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and will continue with activities till October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. He said it will be joined by crores of party workers across the country.
Earlier in his speech deputy chief minister, Y Patton, who is also the and BJP state legislature party leader, acknowledged that BJP state unit under the presidentship of Imna Along currently has 12 legislators. Patton however said that the party can increase the tally from 12 to 25 with the support of Karyakartas and central leaders, if the seat sharing formula was 30:30.

He acknowledged the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi for promoting all-round development in the North East region especially Nagaland. He asserted that state BJP legislators were working tirelessly to provide good governance.

Patton claimed that Nagaland has the highest registered BJP members among various political parties of the state with around four to five lakh members presently. In view of BJP’s growth, Patton said it was high time that the party formed the government and assured the national president and central leaders that the state unit will do the best for the lotus to bloom in Nagaland.

BJP national spokesperson and Prabhari Nagaland, Nalin Kohli, said that the visit of National president to Nagaland was a positive response. He also acknowledged the dedication and achievements of the BJP Nagaland team and their mission to serve the people. He said that the party was focused on community development under the leadership of Prime Minister and president JP Nadda.

Earlier in his welcome address, BJP Nagaland state unit president, Temjen Imna Along Longkumer, mentioned that the party has grown only through sheer dedication and hard work of the BJP workers.
He said BJP has become the world’s largest political party under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and it stood for good governance and seeks to work for the social, economic and political upliftment.
Expressing gratitude to all the party workers who attended the meeting, state president urged them to work harder and make the party stronger.

The compère at the meeting was state vice president, P Kavili Achumi while invocation was given by Sumi Aphuyemi Baptist Church, Kohima, pastor Rev. Dr. Kiyeto G. Sema and lighting of lamps.
Later in the evening, Nadda attended a dinner-cum-meeting at the chief minister officials residence.