EMN
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 18
Under the leadership of Dr.Shurhozelie as the NPF president and T.R.Zeliang as the Chief Minister the discrimination against its own party MLAs started despite several advices rendered to them against such ill-motivated designs, alleged Imkong Imchen, the spokesperson of NPF Legislature Party supporting Kaito Aye as its leader. Imkong Imchen expressed his regret on such development in the NPF. He said a large section of the party legislature and rank and file of the party have suggested for initiating genuine reconciliation so as to safeguard the conscience and unity of the party which were flatly rejected under these persons’ leadership.
“We feel imperative in our part to issue this statement to the public domain so as to clarify their mind from any confusion about the recent political developments in the state. As people’s elected representatives, we are well aware of our responsibilities towards the people as we are fully conscious of the fact we are always answerable to the people,” Imkong Imchen added.
According to him, the exemplary leadership qualities demonstrated by Neiphiu Rio since 2003 has caught the imagination of the people of Nagaland thereby they have reposed their faith and confidence by rendering massive mandate to his leadership leading to the formation of NPF led DAN Government 2003. It goes without saying that much of the credit goes to the leadership of Neiphiu Rio in person, Imkong Imchen claimed.
Since then Neiphiu Rio has provided a stable and sustainable government to the people of Nagaland till 2013 by securing massive mandates in every election, Imkong Imchen further said in the statement. It was under his leadership that the people of Nagaland have accepted the NPF party as a dependable and trustworthy political party in the state. As Chief Minister of the state, Neiphiu Rio has delivered all round development, which was something unparalleled in the history of the Nagaland government, the statement added.
According to Imkong Imchen, Neiphiu Rio’s decision to start another political inning as member of Lok Sabha was well endorsed by the NPF party as well as DAN partners and the people of Nagaland. As a result of his election to the Lok Sabha, the leadership issue has cropped up requiring change of guard, yet the matter amicably settled in favour of T.R.Zeliang because of Neiphiu Rio’s personal intervention, the statement also claimed.
“Besides the weak leadership issue under these two persons the goodwill and confidence established with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under the leadership of Shri Neiphiu Rio was systematically dismantled rendering the people of Nagaland in complete financial chaos,” rued the statement of Imkong Imchen.
According to Imkong Imchen, the Naga political issue, which is the main agenda of the NPF party and of DAN, was almost relegated to the historical dustbin despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi having given enough indication of his concern about this issue. The agenda of NPF as a dependable facilitator in this regard was set aside, it added.
It is very painful and condemnable today to observe that Dr. Shurhozelie and T.R. Zeliang are making personalized attacks on Neiphiu Rio due to their sheer frustration, which is unacceptable to the people of Nagaland. Posterity will judge the truth, the statement further said.
It then said that G. Kaito Aye as leader of the majority of NPF legislators and party rank and file had discussed with outmost sincerity about the prevalence of internal democracy and change of leadership with president Dr. Shurhozelie several times. The erstwhile president had assured Kaito Aye and others that he would allow inner democracy to prevail and would respect the majority view of the legislators, the statement added. “However to the utter surprise of everybody, Dr. Shurhozelie the then president of NPF has started committing massive violation of party constitution by suspending several NPF MLAs from the membership of the party. It is a fact that the MLAs were elected by the people but not by Dr. Shurhurze1ie alone,” said the statement of Imkong Imchen.
It then said that as a democrat, after having lost the majority support and confidence of the party MLAs it was expected of T.R.Zeliang to honorably step down from the Chief Ministership and pave the way to G.Kaito Aye as the latter enjoys the massive popular support of the NPF as well as the DAN MLAs. It seems T. R. Zeliang and Dr. Shurhozelie are drunk with power and have lost all their moral senses and are exhibiting disrespect to the people of the state and also of established democratic established norms, the statement also said.
“Under the given circumstances, the majority of the NPF legislators along with DAN partners have no option but to stand steadfast against the leadership of Dr. Shurhozelie and Shri T.R. Zeliang for their acts of massive omission and commission. We trust the people of the State will take this statement in right perspective,” Imkong Imchen stated.
