Mokokchung, Nagaland, April 6 (HBTV): The Congress party and Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’s (INDIA) consensus candidate for the 18th Lok Sabha elections, Supongmeren Jamir, kicked off his campaign at the town hall in Mokokchung on April 6.  

Jamir said that the forthcoming parliamentary election is being fought not on political policies but on grounds of faith and ideology. He said the faith, traditions, and customs of minorities are gradually being threatened and destroyed by the National Democratic Alliance-led (NDA) government and its allies, which includes the United Democratic Alliance government of Nagaland.  

Jamir asserted that the NDA government is all set to wipe out secularism. He said it is targeting Christians and other minorities in the country, an example of which can be seen in the forceful replacement of religious holidays on working days.  

The Congress candidate also slammed the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Bharatiya Janata Party government for bringing a legislation prohibiting the practice of ‘magical healing’ to convert tribal people. He alleged that the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill 2024 penalizes Christians who offer prayer or healing service. He alleged further that in Manipur too, auspicious Christian occasions have been made into working days. 

Jamir, therefore, appealed to the people to cast their votes for his candidature to protect 'secularism' and bring about a change in the country. 

If the people give his party the mandate, he said, the Congress plans to implement various schemes and polices for the uplift of the people:  INR 1 lakh every year to women living in the Below Poverty Line; 50% job reservation for women both in the centre and the state; enhancement of salary for Anganwadi workers; creation of 30,000 jobs in India where Nagaland will get 1,114 jobs; earmark an amount of INR 5000 crore to be distributed state-wise for students’ education and promotion of entrepreneurship;  health insurance and pension schemes for taxi drivers and online delivery persons; revival of the Old Pension Scheme, and old ration system instead of ration money for security personnel, among others.