Centre plays stepmother to Nagaland: Rio

Kohima, Oct 09 (UNI) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio alleged the Centre of its step-motherly attitude towards the state and said this has hindered the development process here.

Mr Rio, at a meeting at Dimapur yesterday said the Centre denied to sponsor the study tour of ten Naga students to Israel.

Speaking against the former Restricted Area Permit (RAP), which forbids outsiders from entering the state for any developmental activities, questioned the Centre for imposing such restrictions.

If such attitude of the Centre prevails nothing would progress and the state would be a laggard, he said.

'' I am frustrated in rendering the services to the people as a Chief Minister,'' he added.

Mr Rio said the state government had planned to hire professionals from abroad for the development of human resources but the Centre refused the proposal, he added.

Reiterating that government is only a facilitator and not a job provider, Mr Rio said,'' it is time to change our mindset and attitude and vigorously to pursue our career through sheer hard work and dilligence.'' UNI AS PP RN1349