Says its leaders ‘misused platform’; never endorsed Sema’s political venture
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Feb. 8 (EMN): After the ‘unexpected’ resignations of its chairman Joel Naga and spokesperson Mar Longkumer on Feb. 7, the Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (Acaut) on Thu. decided to let the cat out of the bag.
Members of the Acaut told a press conference in Dimapur that they ‘gladly’ accept the resignations tendered by the duo. “If they had not resigned, Acaut would have forced them to resign,” the members asserted.
With Acaut Nagaland finding itself at the receiving end from citizens because of the involvement of Naga and Longkumer with the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO), the members clarified that their involvement with CCNTHCO was their individual participation ‘misusing the platform of Acaut’ and that Acaut never endorsed them.
“Acaut was always firm that the movement shall not touch politics. People have accused us of having a hidden agenda and therefore we want to make it clear to Naga public that their involvement is not a position of Acaut and people should not be confused,” one of the members said.
Acaut still stands with their principles—against corruption; ‘one government, one tax,’ and early Naga political solution inclusive of all Naga political groups; and be a non-political movement, the member said.
‘Acaut works on consensus and we did not endorse them, rather they had misused the platform,’ it was informed.
On the entry of Acaut advisor K Khekiye Sema into state politics, the members said that although they still have ‘high regard’ for Sema they were saddened by the step he has taken. “At least he could have consulted Acaut members and detach from the movement when it is clear that Acaut has boundaries with non-involvement in politics.”
They wished him luck, but maintained that the Acaut never endorsed his political foray. Acaut, they informed, has a resolution which immediately terminates membership once a member involves in politics.
On Feb. 7, the Acaut’s co-chairman, Joel Naga, stated in a letter addressed to the Acaut’s co-convenor that his resignation from the anti-corruption body was on ‘moral grounds having moral responsibility towards the organisation and the people, and having failed to stop the 13th assembly elections as per the solution before election slogan.’
On the other hand, Longkumer stated ‘other priorities to look after which needs total commitment and attention’ as the reason for his resignation.
