Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal who is also the cluster in charge of Nagaland said that the issues of the northeast are genuine and have to be solved accordingly keeping in mind the voices of the people.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
The Nagaland BJP unit organised its extended state executive meeting at the IMC Hall in Dimapur on Tuesday. In the meeting, the party proposed that the Government of India and the negotiating parties expedite the finalization of an early, inclusive, and honourable solution to the protracted Naga political issue. Resolving this issue promptly will bring lasting peace and positively facilitate the process of all-around development and economic development of the state, it said.
The meeting which was attended by senior party leaders and the incumbent BJP legislators, was addressed by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP’s national secretary Anil K Antony.
Sonowal who is also the cluster in charge of Nagaland said that the issues of the northeast are genuine and have to be solved accordingly keeping in mind the voices of the people.
Understanding that the northeast has a vast cultural heritage, Sonowal articulated that as a BJP member with a clear vision to be a “Karyataka”, one needs to inculcate the principle of “nation first and self last”.
Stating that it is “lucky” to have Narendra Modi as the prime minister of the country, Sonowal praised him as an ideal leader with the conviction to serve the society. He asserted that in the last 10 years, Modi has made every effort to make the Northeast most powerful through progressive inputs. However, during the UPA’s government, the Centre had not done anything, he alleged.
Anil K Antony, an entrepreneur turned politician, also in charge of Nagaland and Meghalaya, stated that the last few years had seen unprecedented progress for the party in the Northeast region.
Antony stated that a few years back the NDA and BJP did not have any seats in the northeast, Nagaland was the first state where the BJP party’s lotus bloomed. With NDPP’s alliance, the state has become NDA’s stronghold, he added.
Despite the misinformation and propaganda by the opposition, Antony claimed that NDA came back for a third term in Lok Sabha election. “Nagaland could have been better but a lesson for “us” to be complacent and to be more united. We should ensure that the party should keep doing better,” he added.
The Nagaland state BJP president, Benjamin Yepthomi, in his presidential address expressed his gratitude the Prime Minster Narendra Modi, National BJP president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, and BJP national general secretary (organization) BL Santosh for entrusting him with the responsibility of serving as the State President of the BJP, Nagaland.
Additionally, Benjamin extended his gratitude to Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along, his near and ones including friends.
Since his appointment as the state BJP president on September 25 last year, Benjamin shared that the past ten months have been hectic but at the same time grateful to all the ministers, advisors, State Office bearers, Spokespersons, State Morchas, Cells, District Presidents, Mandal Presidents, and every Karyakarta of Nagaland BJP for their constant guidance and support.
Expressing his “proudness” that 44 per cent of the BJP’s councillors are women, Benjamin shared that the vision of Prime Minister Modi was highlighted in the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement which was signed with the NSCN (IM) and the signing of the “Agreed Position” with the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) on November 17, 2017.
Appealing to Modi and his government for an early, inclusive, and honourable solution to the “long-standing” Naga political issues, Benjamin also said words of encouragement to the Karyakartas by stating that the people of Nagaland, have a lot of work to do in the days ahead where there is no room for complacency and for which he called upon individuals gathered to renew their commitment to the collective mission of serving the people and advancing the ideals of the party.
Sonowal for peace, tranquillity in Nagaland
Sonowal said Nagaland has the immense potential, particularly through its unique traditional handicrafts, organic products and such due to which the state could play a very vital role for India’s progress.
He said in Nagaland as well, more than a thousand kilometers of road projects have been constructed in the last few years with additional more in the pipeline, and several hundred people covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, housing scheme through PM Awas Yojana.
“I believe Nagaland is one of the most promising states that could contribute considerably at making India a self-reliant country by 2047,” Sonowal said while also chipping in that Nagaland and the other states of the northeast have become one of the most attractive places in the global tourism map thereby attracting global investment and easy accessibility to ASEAN markets.
He termed that it was done through the assurance of peace, tranquillity, and security.
Rs 6 lakh crore spent in NE under Act East Policy
Anil K Antony, BJP National Secretary, in-charge of Nagaland and Meghalaya in his keynote address, shed light that the last few years have been unprecedented for the BJP and the northeast region in general.
Recalling that a few years back, the NDA and the BJP had not won a single seat in the region, he however said that their fortunes changed within a few years time and Nagaland state was one of the first to bloom the “lotus” as early as in 2003.
Under the “Act East Policy”, he said that the NDA government has spent almost Rs 6 lakh crore in the northeast to develop infrastructure, connectivity, and boost domestic tourism, bank, and industries.
Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton, in his speech emphasized that the BJP’s focus must be on the development and progress of Nagaland, the welfare of the farmers, youth, and women should remain at the forefront of its agenda by saying that “ensuring that every citizen if Nagaland has access to opportunities and resources, we can build a state that is not only self-reliant, but also a model for others to follow.”