Reply of Neiphiu Rio to show cause notice by DAC on 13th April 2016

I received a show cause notice dated 13th April, 2016, on 18th April, 2016, although it had been released to the media before I had received a copy, as it had appeared in the local newspapers on 16th April, 2016(Annexure A). I was earlier served a show cause notice dated 4th April, 2016 (Annexure B), to which I had replied on 14th April, 2016 (Annexure C). My reply to the notice dated 13th April, 2016 is here under:-

1. In so far as my inability to attend the party meetings is concerned, I have already replied to the earlier show cause notice dated 4th April, 2016 in my reply dated 14th April, 2016, and I am also giving my reply again hereunder:-
2. So far as lodging of complaint against the Chief Minister on the issue of educational qualification is concerned, I have no hand whatsoever. The issue has been widely reported in the media through which I came to know about. I am not accountable in any manner regarding the controversy over the CM’s educational qualification and it is for the person or persons concerned to clarify to the people. I would also like to bring to your notice that these type of allegations pertaining to cases, which are subjudice of attributing motive to me so as to give the impression that the cases are motivated tantamount to interference with administration of justice. When the names and details of the complainants are known to everyone as the media has widely covered the issue, where is the question of implicating me on this issue? In fact, it came as a rude shock to me that two senior functionaries of the NPF party, namely Mr. S. Shingnyu and Mr. Hanghu had filed complaint against me on the issue of my educational qualification despite the fact that I am an elected NPF MP. This complaint was pursued despite me issuing a clear statement and declaring my honest position with all facts and details.
3. I have always believed in democracy in every sense of the word and will continue to do so for all times. It was in line with my strong believe in democracy that I fully endorsed the leadership of Mr. T.R. Zeliang-as he had the majority support-during the change of guard at the time of my departure. In fact, I had initially proposed Mr. Noke to succeed me but when I learnt that Mr. T.R. Zeliang had garnered majority support without my knowledge and through a signature campaign and therefore I requested Mr. Noke to withdraw his candidature and unanimous endorsement was given to Mr. T. R. Zeliang. Likewise, when the majority of NPF MLAs supported the leadership of Mr. Kaito and Mr. Noke, I extended support to the majority group within our party.
4. As stated earlier, I was one of the founding members of the NPF party. It was under late Mr. Vizol’s presidentship, that we formulated our policies and objectives and went to the people. It goes without saying that the people across the length and breadth of the State are fully aware of what I have done for the party since its inception. Some of the greatest sacrifices of my political career have been made for the Regional Cock Party, now NPF and I have tirelessly worked for the elevation of the NPF on all fronts and on all occasions. When I have given my best for the building up of this party, the question of dividing or doing damage upon the party just does not arise.
5. In so far as development of the State is concerned, in about two years of becoming MP, I have taken up the issue of development of Nagaland in Parliament from all possible angles. I have addressed the House in budget discussions, motion of thanks to President’s Addresses, Zero Hour etc. The record of my participation in parliamentary proceedings is available for anybody to look into in the parliament records and even on the Lok Sabha website. I have also actively pursued key developmental issues and I have written to the Prime Minister and the different ministries on dozens of occasions in order to bring wholesome and all round development to Nagaland. Key areas that I have focused on in the past two years include development of roads, improvement of connectively like air and rail connectivity, better telecom, broadband and internet connectivity, establishment of educational institutions like colleges for medicine, engineering, skill and human resources development, Hindi language, services sector etc. I have also worked for improved tourism activities and infrastructure, youth resources and sports, construction of railways and airports, etc. Furthermore, by virtue of being the only Lok Sabha Member from the State, and as Chairman of various national flagship programmes, I have the responsibility of overseeing and monitoring several flagship national programmes and schemes, for which I have conducted several meetings and toured several districts of the State. I have extended my fullest cooperation to the State Government in my role of monitoring national flagship programmes and I have always given positive suggestions for more effective implementation of the programmes. You will also be aware that under the Prime Minister’s flagship programme Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) I have adopted two villages namely Selouphe Village under Dimapur district and Longwa Village under Mon district and various developmental programmes are being undertaken under this novel scheme. In the field of development, there is no denying the fact that there is still a lot more to be done, however our collective slogan of “Peace for Development and Development for Peace” remains my motto towards the cause of our people.
6. The show cause notice says that I have deviated from my commitments of working for early political solution and development of the State. In this regard, I would like to make it clear that I have never deviated from my declared stand on the Naga political issue and I have tirelessly strived for bringing early political settlement that is honourable and acceptable to the people. I would like to state that I still stand by the policies and political stand of the NPF party, especially our declared commitments in our election manifestos of 2003, 2008 and 2013. We have declared to the masses that we will step down to pave way for an alternative arrangement in the event of a political settlement that is honourable and acceptable to the people and till today I stand by the commitment made by us and the party. In fact, in my first address in the Central Hall while electing the NDA leader Mr. Narendra Modi, I categorically mentioned about the ongoing peace process and the need for early solution. I have continuously worked in facilitating the peace process as I have taken up the Indo-Naga political issue even on the floor of Parliament, on several occasions. I have also highlighted the need for early solution at every possible platform and have appealed to all sections, including Members of Parliament, NDA alliance partners meeting, All Party Meetings, North Eastern MPs, civil societies, religious and social organisations, etc.
7. However, you have alleged that I am tacitly indulging in destabilizing and continuously playing to topple the present Government by hatching conspiracy within the NPF elected members for change of leadership and I am trying to come back to the State politics through the backdoor. I would like to put on record that I have not spoken to any party leader or elected Member of any intention to return to State politics. I do not have to enter in the State politics through backdoor because I have gone out of the State politics from the front door with the approval of the party and the support of the people. The word “elements” has been referred to several times, I fail to understand what you mean by that. Before my departure the party had obtained in the elections a comfortable majority on its own with a record margin of victory under my leadership, and we also successfully launched our NPF party in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur against all odds. However I was saddened to see some party men and women turn our victory of 2013 state general election to agitation, to the extent of vandalising the NPF Head office, Kohima and other divisional offices, while the Chief Minister’s official residence was gheraoed by supporters of some NPF elected members.
8. I agree that it was my decision to go to Parliament after 2013 DAN government took over for the third consecutive time. In our first parliamentary meeting with elected Members in March 2013, in my address, I had expressed my interest to go to Parliament. The primary purpose of my venture into national politics was to hasten the peace process and the ongoing political dialogue in tune with our NPF Manifesto. I am indeed grateful to the masses for the mandate bestowed upon me to represent the entire State in the Lok Sabha. To my understanding the issue of the Nagas struggle for self determination has been successful. The Government of India during the Congress led UPA regime under the Hon’ble PM Late Narasimha Rao has recognised The decades old Naga problem as a Political issue as it is a Pre Independent India struggle, while the BJP led NDA government headed by Hon’ble PM Vajpayee recognised The ‘Uniqueness of the Naga History and the situation. On these bases negotiations/Peace process has been pursued for the last 18 years culminating in the historic ‘Framework Agreement’ of 3rd August 2015. I salute the Naga people who had made tremendous contributions and sacrifices for the Naga cause, particularly the NPGs. It is the opportune time for all Nagas to be pragmatic and come together to work out a political settlement with the GOI in order to move forward and ensure a brighter future for our younger generations.
9. Being one of the founding members of the NPF party, I have always strived for party unity and desired true reconciliation in letter and spirit. The crisis that had erupted in the early part of 2015 was indeed unfortunate and we were all deeply pained by the developments. At that point of time, the two MPs had extended support to the majority group. It is pertinent to point out that one of the primary reasons why the crisis rocked the party was due to the issue of disqualification of three MLAs who had joined the BJP from the NCP. In fact representatives and emissaries of the BJP Central leadership had even come to Nagaland to request the NPF and State leadership to refrain from disqualifying the BJP MLAs who are a coalition partner of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) since 2003. However, the BJP MLAs were disqualified. The reconciliation process was initiated on the advice of many senior leaders, tribal hohos, civil society and well-wishers and also on the directives of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to reconcile among the groups. The party President Dr. Shurhozelie in his letter dated 7th April, 2015, to Mr. Noke and Mr. Kaito stated “I am now conveying the stand of the party that we highly welcome the proposal because we always stand for unity of the party and stability of the Government” (Annexure 1). However, having observed that the process of reconciliation was not done in a satisfactory manner and that there was a feeling of injustice amongst the members, the two MPs Late Khekiho Zhimomi and myself wrote a joint letter to the NPF President urging upon him to “ensure that true reconciliation take place under an atmosphere of accommodation, unity and oneness in the true and traditional spirit of the regional cock symbol party” (Annexure 2). Again on 26th January, 2016, I wrote to the NPF President wherein it was stated that, “during Mr. Khekiho’s tenure, we had approached you individually and jointly with suggestions and recommendations for fostering an atmosphere of goodwill and brotherhood to facilitate the reconciliation process and the need for better coordination between the government and the two MPs from Nagaland” (Annexure 3). The above facts point out that I was always for reconciliation, party unity and oneness in the greater interest of our people, Therefore the false allegation of anti-party activism and harbouring of dissident movement is completely untrue and I deny the allegations.
10. In 2014, I came to know of my participation in the General Convention scheduled for 26th November, only through the local newspapers and though I did not receive any meeting notice or verbal intimation or programme copy, I attended the General Convention and delivered my speech wherein I called for unity and dedicated efforts for the welfare of our people.
11. I was also very surprised that on the day of ticket issuing programme, 24th September, 2014, to Dr. Neiphrezo Keditsu for contesting the bye-elections to the 11 Northern Angami II A/c, which was to elect my replacement as I had vacated the seat, I was neither informed nor invited and I found that my name was not mentioned in the programme. However, I was given the opportunity to address the meeting when I made my presence.
12. I was also not invited for the 31st April, 2015, Special General Convention for reconciliation nor was my name in the programme and therefore I was in Delhi and could not attend the programme due to prior engagements. In my meeting with the party president at a later date, I informed him the reasons about my absence at the Special General Conference and he responded by saying that he was apprehensive that those responsible might forget to include my name in the programme and he regretted it.
13. On 26th January, 2016, I had written to the party President wherein I also mentioned that I had learned of a CEC Meeting scheduled for 29th January, 2016, through the newspapers, and that I would be unable to attend the meeting due to prior official commitments at Delhi. When I met the President on 27th February, 2016, at his residence in Kohima at 8:00 AM, I reiterated my stance vis-à-vis the CEC meeting held on the 29th January, 2016, he acknowledged it and also confirmed that he had received my letter addressed to him, dated 26th January, 2016.
14. During my interaction with him on 27th February, 2016, at his residence, I also informed him of an FIR being lodged by two office bearers of the NPF Central Office, namely Mr. S. Shingnyu and Mr. Hanghu on the matter of my educational qualification. He expressed his unawareness and informed me that he had summoned them but they were yet to turn up. I also informed him that I would be unable to attend the Working Committee meeting scheduled for 2nd March, 2016, as I had to attend the Parliament session where the General Budget was to be presented in Parliament on 29th February. Therefore, I left for New Delhi on 28th February, 2016.
15. My role and responsibilities have changed after becoming MP. The masses and the electorate of Nagaland has reposed their faith in me and had elected me to represent the entire State in the Lok Sabha. Being a Member of Parliament and stationed in New Delhi, it goes without saying that my primary role is to carry out my responsibilities in Parliament and in New Delhi apart from addressing the concerns and issues relating to my constituency, which happens to be the entire State. I am also a Member of the Public Accounts Committee, a Member of the Standing Committee on Coal & Steel, a Member of the Consultative Committee of DoNER and a Member of PAC sub-committee on Defence. These assignments and responsibilities have a series of engagements that include meetings, hearings, tours, visits, etc.

10. As expressed through our letters and also in our discussions with the party President regarding our role in the political and other developmental issues which involves our people and the state, we had requested the President to advise the Chief Minister and his colleagues to involve and utilize the services of the MPs. We had waited and expected some response or communication to that effect, but till today there has been silence on the matter. I am for total reconciliation in letter and spirit, but it appears to me that the party is side lining and unwilling to reconcile with me. If any initiative is forthcoming to include me on the issues regarding the interest of the Nagas, I am always open and ready for discussions.

11. As stated earlier, I had received a show cause notice dated 4th April 2016 in which various unwarranted allegations were made including that I had not attended the various meetings of the party. In this connection I am to state that I had not been given details of the information pertaining to the dates on which the intimation was sent to me coupled with the mode of issuance of the notice and as such I could not effectively reply to the show cause notice mentioned. Instead of furnishing the said information you have issued this show cause notice making various allegations against me from which it is implicitly clear that the first show cause notice was a trap show cause notice which did not contain material particulars with the hope of obtaining from me certain unguarded statements and when the same failed you have resorted to this show cause notice, the perusal of which clearly indicates that most of the allegations contained in the show cause notice pertain to the period up to April, 2015. Therefore, if there was any strength in your allegations you should have issued this show cause notice one year ago and that too before the reconciliation. After the reconciliation, the alleged cause of action does not exist. You did not initiate any action because you knew that there is no substance in these allegations. All allegations to the contrary are denied.

12. In view of the above points I request the DAC to withdraw the show cause notice in the greater interest of understanding and unity of the NPF, and in the true spirit of reconciliation and oneness of the NPF party.

I remain steadfast on the commitments of our election manifestos of 2003, 2008 and 2013 and I will continue to work tirelessly for the welfare of the people and the state of Nagaland in particular.

NEIPHIU RIO