After defeat, Chishi says there is unfinished business

Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, May 25: Despite suffering a loss described as “heart-rending” by his party, Congress candidate in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, KL Chishi on Saturday put on a brave front and maintained that though he might have lost the battle, the war was far from over. Addressing media persons at his residence in Chekiye village, Dimapur, Chishi said that he suffered defeat because of the “battle of Mon”—where seven Naga People’s Front legislators went against the party to support the NDPP candidate. Chishi lost by a margin of 16,344 votes. “This year’s election was an issue-based one but the INC and NPF have not lost the war, we have only lost a battle,” said Chishi. Projecting his battle with Tokheho Yepthomi as between David and Goliath, Chishi said that it was perhaps the first time a party without any MLA fought against a ‘mighty ruling alliance.’ “Though I did not kill the giant, I have injured him and they will soon be hospitalised,” said Chishi. Describing this year’s election as “an interesting one”, Chishi said that in his “43 years of political experience” he had witnessed such enthusiasm among the young and old voters alike for the first time. The former chief minister said that an “expeditious, pragmatic settlement of the Indo-Naga political issue needs to be addressed at the earliest.” He further cited the ‘looming attempt to introduce’ the Citizen Amendment Bill (CAB). “We are aiming at the sovereignty of the Nagas and while doing so we find that the CAB will further aggravate the situation.” Besides the CAB, he said, the central government is also planning to introduce the Uniform Civil Court (UCC). “Instead of hammering out a solution which has been prolonged for 70 years, they want to introduce the CAB and the UCC. “The nation will be brought under one law, one nation and one religion through their agenda and it will be a dangerous trend which will have a serious impact on Nagas as a whole,” said Chishi. According to him, the country is headed for a split. While acknowledging the people and supporters of both the Congress and the NPF, Chishi also was grateful for the “tremendous support from the NDPP and the BJP workers”, reasoning that “it was also because of them the votes were high.” “I lost with pride and honour while also discovering that I am loved by the people, and I was commanding certain amount of affection from the people,” he said while thanking all electorates of the state. Chishi also appreciated the church leaders for wanting to uphold and defend the faith of the Nagas while adding that they did not want “Jesus to be re-crucified.”