Headlines       Vol. 1 Issue 42-43

Mar 22- Apr 6,   1999

Sonia's visit to NE states evokes mixed reactions During a trip, which was organised to restrengthen the Congress in the North-Eastern region, Sonia Gandhi reaffirmed her party's commitment towards peace and development in the region. She claimed that the present coalition government at the Centre failed to protect the interests of the region. After visiting Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya on couple of occasions, this time Sonia Gandhi went to Nagaland and Manipur also to tone up the State party functioning for the future tasks. This was Sonia Gandhi's first visit to these two North-Eastern states as the Congress chief. Her visit to Manipur appears more important than that of Nagaland as the assembly elections in the State are due at the end of the year. Keeping in view the forthcoming Assembly elections, Sonia Gandhi virtually launched her party's campaign at a public meeting in Imphal. She promised the people of the State an efficient, transparent and honest government in case her party was voted to power. In Nagaland, Sonia Gandhi praised the Naga people for upholding the principles of democracy and for following a way of life better than many other states in the country. In both the states, she emphasised on the involvement of youths in the developmental process. At Imphal, the Congress president categorically assured the people of the State that territorial integrity of Manipur would be maintained if her party came to power. Sonia's remark on this burning issue drew applause from the crowd. However, various Naga organisations had not taken this remark in the same spirit. Organisations like Naga Hoho had criticised the Congress president for her remarks on this sensitive issue. In a press statement, Naga Hoho president M. Vero said, “the first election bullet Sonia Gandhi fired on her arrival in Manipur has wounded the Nagas. The Naga Hoho is astonished by her reckless statement to her Imphal audience that 'the territorial integrity of Manipur would be maintained', if her party was voted to power. The Italy born president of the AICC should have properly advised about the political minefield in the North-East.” Mr. Vero further said, “as a matter of fact, the Naga Hoho consider the rhetoric of Sonia Gandhi for maintenance of Manipur territorial integrity as the highest breach of trust and impel her not to make a prejudice statement so as to gain a political mileage.” Apart from attacking the Central Government in her public meetings, Sonia Gandhi attacked Nipamacha Singh Government in Manipur. She observed that the State Government had become symbol of corrupt governance. The Congress chief described the Nipamacha Government as one formed by defectors which came to power without caring for the people's verdict who voted for the Congress in the last Assembly elections. Sonia Gandhi further stated that instead of containing ethnic violence, the State Government aggravated the situation and declared that restoration of amity among various ethnic groups was the prime agenda before the Congress. Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over the delay in finding a solution to the decades-old Naga problem. Nagaland Chief Minister S. C. Jamir speaking in the same public meeting said that Nagaland was a unique case as it was the only State to be formed vide a political agreement to preserve the identity and culture of the Nagas. He complained that the 16-point agreement of 1960 had not been adhered to despite it being incorporated in Article 371 (A) of the Constitution. Mr. Jamir said the Centre should not equate the peculiar problems of Nagaland with that of other North-Eastern states.

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