17 party leaders from Manipur expelled for anti-party activities, says NPF

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 18 (EMN): The secretary general of Naga People’s Front (NPF) party, Achumbemo Kikon, on Friday said that party’s decision to expel 17 NPF office bearers from Tamenglong district in Manipur does not suffer a setback for the NPF.

While interacting with journalists, he said that the expelled members were found indulging in ‘anti-party activities’ in the past couple of months.

‘But we thought they would mend their ways and therefore the party had been impatiently waiting to see that they correct themselves and work along in the party line. But the way they have been functioning, the party had seen the report from Manipur state in detail, for which the central office had taken a decision to expel them,’ he maintained.

The 17 office bearers including the president, working president from the Tamenglong division were expelled on September 14 by the party president, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu, for a period of three years.

Kikon said that in the aftermath of the decision, the party had issued a directive to the Manipur state unit NPF president Awangbo Newmai to immediately reconstitute and restructure the party in Tamenglong division and send the report to the central office for proper approval. He added that a report is expected within ‘these days.’

Political affairs mission

With regard to the recently constituted political affairs mission (PAM) after withdrawing from the Joint Legislature Forum (JLF), Kikon informed that it has plans to meet the interlocutor RN Ravi.

He maintained that the PAM headed by the convenor TR Zeliang, who is also the leader of the opposition, would also meet the central leaders ‘if required’.

‘As far as our meetings with NSCN (IM) and NNPG are concerned, they were very encouraging. The gesture that we got from them so far is very positive and everybody looks forward to an early solution,’ he said.

Kikon reiterated that the NPF’s stand is ‘very clear that everyone should be taken on board, the solution has to be acceptable, honourable and inclusive’ and added that the message was conveyed to the parties involved.

Kikon also informed that the PAM convenor has sought an appointment with the interlocutor, and they are expected to meet ‘anytime soon’.

He stated that the endeavour of the PAM is to meet the people, and ‘most importantly’ the prime minister of India.