Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 14 (EMN): Following sharp criticism from the Rio-led NPF group of having misinterpreted the court order pronounced on September 11, and for issuing ‘order’ to chief secretary, commissioner, deputy commissioner of Dimapur, chief electoral officer, commissioner of police and to Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio, Rajya Sabha MP and NPF secretary general, KG Kenye today clarified that it was not an order as alleged by the rival group but a letter conveying information to the people who have been brought ‘within the circle’ by Rio’s letter of August 16 last.
“By no means was it an order. I know my limitations and my boundaries,” Kenye said, addressing a press conference at the NPF central office in Kohima. He maintained that the point of origin why he had addressed his letter to the six offices was on August 16 last, Rio had circulated one order as the newly elected president of the NPF convening a general convention on September 20 in Dimapur. The said notification was addressed to the Election Commission of India, chief minister Nagaland, chief secretary, chief electoral officer and also to deputy commissioner Dimapur.
The MP remarked that subsequently, DC Dimapur had, through the EAC, had written to Rio on September 1 asking him to redirect his letter to the concerned authority, indicating there is an authority to approve/authorize/sanction the holding of the general convention. That authority, he stated, is the NPF central headquarters. “This, I think, was very appropriate, and permission was not granted if he (Rio) had been seeking and if it was his intention to seek a permission to hold the general convention within the jurisdiction of Dimapur administration. I really don’t know why he had to address or copy to all these respectable officers,” Kenye added.
He said that the party held a consultative meeting and decided to seek the court’s view on this matter, following which, on September 11, the party appealed to the high court and the court pronounced ‘its judgment’ that status quo be maintained.
“For a common man like me, my understanding of the word is that things should be maintained as it was earlier, which means the legitimacy of the NPF party is retained by the central office and that they (Rio’s group) are the dissidents who are revolting/rebelling the authority of the central office,” Kenye stated, adding therefore, the party felt it necessary to circulate the court’s order to those whom Rio had issued copy of his notification earlier (August 16 letter) lest they are unaware of the proceedings of the court and their names have already been dragged in by the previous said letter by Rio. “I was duty bound to inform them…. It was only a request for compliance,” he said.
On the statement made by the rival group that his misinterpreting the order of the high court will attract the arms of the law, Kenye said, “for that matter, I would leave it to the honourable court to decide what to do.”
Pointing out that the rival group has asked him to apologize for what he stated, the MP said there was no reason for him to apologize in this regard.
“If at all an apology is due to anybody, it is to the people of Nagaland, our voters whom we have betrayed… Completely betrayed their trust and confidence which they have reposed in our party for the third consecutive term to put us where we are in power today. Because of our betrayals and misconducts, we have made a melee, a drama out of this entire mandate of the people for whom we have come to power,” he said, opening up for the first time since the latest party crisis began two months ago.
“Instead of concentrating in development and delivering to the people what we have promised them through our manifestoes, we legislators as well as the party rank and file alike, we have behaved so irresponsibly,” the MP asserted rather candidly. He stated that the leaders have made a mess out of the people’s mandate.
“I as the secretary general of this party, I think I have to tender an unconditional apology to the people of the state for our behaviour, our irresponsibility and the variety show which has been continuing over the years since 2014… Time and again we keep creating this crisis. Our voters expect good governance, responsible behaviours but we have become court jesters and we have projected a completely distorted and disfigured image of our Naga society to our neighbours and to the whole world,” Kenye said. He insisted that whatever the world may say, it is still an internal crisis and people see them all as one. Stating the entire situation evolved from internal bickering among the leaders, he was of the view that if the leaders had any conscience in them then they should be hanging their heads in shame.
“A collective responsibility and realization has to dawn in us,” he stated.
The MP also expressed dismay that while one side was trying to avoid what is not supposed to go to the public domain, the rival side want to drag to the press the first opportunity they get, renewing the mockery all over. ‘We have restrained ourselves from divulging many things which otherwise may have cleared the air early also, but we need to have some decency while we keep clamouring for the chair and the power’ he remarked.
Stating that the feedback from the public now is that they are ‘tired and fed-up’ of the internal fight of the NPF, he commented nobody is interested anymore in hearing any sides of the rights or wrongs of either side.
“I still say this (crisis) is a blot on the face of the NPF party and we should not try to magnify it into such a case that it becomes the focal point to keep distracting our society from concentrating on other constructive and positive business of life. Naga people cannot circle around the crisis of this party all the time,” he said, adding, “Let us finish our internal bickering from within these four walls of the party.”
While the party president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu has claimed that the present crisis was a replica of the 2015 crisis, the party secretary general said today’s case is entirely different. He cited that in 2015, the ECI registered a case within 3 days of receiving a complaint but this time, till today the commission is yet to register any dispute case so there was no question of a dispute or controversy.
He felt it was fortunate that there was a dispute in 2015 as the ECI has now well-versed with the history of the party and would not be carried away. However, he admitted to the central office having received forwarded letters from ECI informing that it has received some complaints about the office from some other group.
On 2018 elections, Kenye observed that there was too many repair works to be done and he wondered how and with what face or what mask’ will (we) the leaders wear and go back to the people to seek their support. He candidly admitted that the party faces the threat of anti-incumbency factor.
He hoped that the people would realize to curb the tendency of the public from relying on the money power which, somehow unfortunately, has taken the centre stage while deciding whom to support. He stated that the present revolt within the party was spearheaded by affluent people who have got that (money) power and that, he suspected, would be their trump card.
The party official said the dust is slowly settling and lines will soon be drawn, defence will be put up and the people with their beliefs and convictions will set the party into two groups.
On the allegiance of the four NPF MLAs in Manipur assembly, Kenye without admitting directly, stated their inclination at the moment was towards the rival group. As to whether the party was contemplating to apply the same yardstick to them as it did to the party legislators in the dissident camp such as suspension and expulsion, he said the party was observing and will take action if necessary.
