Naga People’s Front (NPF) has come down heavily on the Neiphiu Rio led government in Nagaland alleging non-fulfillment of promises and not meeting various deadlines despite setting them of development projects.
In a statement issued to the media, the opposition party alleged that Rio-led government’s 100 days in power had passed without any major achievement and cited some of his promises to drive home its allegation.
According to NPF, the Chief Minister’s promise to implement a new state sports policy within 100 days had failed to see light of the day.
Except for his ‘sugar-coated bragging before the public every now and then, the latest being at the closing function of NE Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship in Dimapur on Saturday’, nothing concrete had come out till date, it added.
The opposition party also termed Rio’s intention to bring all sports associations and federations in the State under Nagaland Olympic Association, where he has been its permanent president since 2003, as a self-seeking initiative for ‘wealth accumulation’.
‘What otherwise explains the massive price escalation of cricket stadium at Sovima from Rs 25 crore to Rs 75 crore, which was executed by his kith and kin in the guise of promoting sports in the State? Even the land initially donated for construction of the stadium by Rio was later compensated at a startling value of Rs 35 per sq ft against the prevailing price of Rs 11 per sq ft in that area then. To top it all, it is learnt that more fund is being allotted for the stadium yet again,’ the communiqué stated.
NPF stated that construction of Multi-Disciplinary Sports Centre (stadium) in DC Court area in Dimapur, allotted by Rio to one of his close associates and which commenced some 15 years back, remained incomplete till date.
It further alleged that the plan to set up a sports university as per PDA government’s Common Minimum Programme released in May 2018 was yet another ‘wealth-accumulation tactic’ of the Chief Minister.