PM denounces hotchpotch coalition,urges Nagas to vote for Congress

Kohima, Feb 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today urged the people to bring the Congress to power in Nagaland and lift the state out of the morass of 'hotchpotch coalition'.

''There is no rule of law and the people are suffering from lawlessness in Nagaland. A government which cannot provide security to its people has no right to get popular mandate again,'' Dr. Singh asserted while addressing an election rally at the Local Ground here.

Criticising the outgoing Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government, Dr Singh said for the last five years Nagaland had been under a 'hotchpotch coalition' of different parties under the name of DAN, ''which had no common agenda or ideology, but a common desire to be in power''.

Nagaland, which is presently under Presidents's rule, faces elections to its 60-member Assembly on March five.

Blaming DAN for trying to divide people on tribal, communal and racial lines, Dr Singh said, ''For this Nagaland missed immense opportunities and is lagging behind on the road to progress and prosperity''.

Stressing the need of a stable government in Nagaland to ensure all round development, he said the Congress had always attached special attention to the North East since the time of Pandit Nehru, who had foresight to recognize the distinct identity of the Nagas and gave statehood to Nagaland.

''Pandit Nehru wanted Nagas to maintain their distinct identity and genius and had great personal affection and regard for the Naga people,'' he reminded them.

He said former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi gave a new era of development to Nagaland, which was followed by Rajiv Gandhi.

''It is because of their commitment and unquestioned love for the Nagas that the people have always supported the Congress. It is only the Congress which can bring prosperity and development and bring overall progress in the country,'' the prime minister reiterated.

He said Nagaland needed an era of peace and stability so that the Nagas could devote their energies to their cultural, educational, social and economic development and urged the electorate to strengthen the hands of Congress and bring it to power to achieve these.

EDS:Here pick up suitably from earlier series.

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