New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday denied the Congress charge that chief ministers of northeastern states were not consulted over the Naga accord, saying that the opposition party was playing “obstructionist politics on an issue of national security”.
The BJP also said that a number of political leaders from the region had welcomed the government move.
“Both the chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have welcomed the Naga peace accord. Another Congress leader Ninong Ering has also welcomed the Naga peace accord,” Nirmala Sitharaman, minister of state for commerce and industry, told the media.
“The Congress is playing obstructionist politics not only on political and economic issues but also on the issue of national security. The Naga peace accord was waiting for decades and finally it has materialised. We have consulted the chief ministers of the states on Goods and Services Tax and the land bill… The Congress is only following obstructionist policy,” she said.
Assam CM Tarun Gogoi had tweeted: “I appreciate peace in Nagaland n welcome settlement of Naga issues. But I will oppose tooth n nail any move that affects Assam’s interests. To allay apprehension of the people, the prime minister should make his stand clear that the Naga peace accord does not affect the interest of Assam…”
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki wrote on his Twitter account: “Welcomed the initiative of the Centre to bring a peaceful solution to the prolonged Naga political issue.”
Congress president Sonia Gandhi earlier slammed the Narendra Modi government over the Naga peace accord and accused it of not taking the chief ministers of northeastern states into confidence. She also said that it showed its “arrogance”.
On the disruption of parliament over the suspension of 25 Congress MPs, Sitharaman said: “The speaker was never provoked so much. They were violating rules by bringing placards in the house despite several warnings.”