Dimapur, August 2 (EMN): The NPF legislators who are part of the current government under TR Zeliang has on Wednesday issued a statement attacking the various allegations levelled against them by the NPF press bureau that was published in the local papers recounting the events leading to the earlier selections of Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu
"The attention of the NPF Legislature Party is drawn to the News item issued in the name of NPF Central on 02.08.2017, published in Local dailies, and is constrained to issue clarifications" stated the press note from Tokheho Yepthomi, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
Recounting the events leading to the selection of former chief minister Dr. Shurhozelie as the leader of the legislature party he stated that, "The Hon'ble MLAs had never on their own, called for a meeting at the private residence of Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu on the night of 15th February 2017 but had rather gathered there at the behest of Shri K. G. Kenye, the Hon'ble MP Rajya Sabha, who had summoned all Hon'ble MLAs at 11 PM. The meeting was Chaired by Shri K. G Kenye who in his opening remark stated that on 14th as well as on 15th of February 2017, he had met the then Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri T. R. Zeliang and had asked him about his decision in regard to the demand of JCC/NTAC, asking him to step down as the Chief Minister.
Shri K. G Kenye had informed that since Shri. T.R Zeliang did not reveal his decision, the meeting was being convened so that a collective decision of the elected members in the presence of Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu could be taken to which Shri Yitachu had stated that the meeting should be conducted in the presence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, which was however not agreed to. Before the Hon’ble MLAs could give their opinions, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu stood up and said 'I have protected Mr. T. R. Zeliang for the last 3 years and now he is trying to cut my legs!
I will not allow this' following which he walked out of the meeting but was persuaded to stay back by some of the MLAs which was witnessed by all 43 NPF MLAs apart from the Independent MLAs present.
In the course of the deliberation, the majority of the Hon'ble MLAs opined that Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu and the Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri T. R. Zeliang should meet at the earliest and deliberate on how to save the Party and the DAN Government from the situation that had arisen out of the conduct of elections to the ULBs wherein some MLAs did opine that Dr. Shurhozelie should take over the helm of affairs. After a lengthy deliberation, Dr. Shurhozelie at the end announced that 'Since the situation compels, I am prepared to take over' at which point of time, Shri K. G. Kenye asked the members if they agreed to it and thereafter asked all the members to raise their hands and append their signatures in support of the same."
Following this, though it was 1 AM in the morning, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu asked all the MLAs to immediately go up to the CMO and convey the same to the T.R Zeliang.
The legislator therefore refuted the claim that they "begged, beseeched, pleaded and almost sobbed themselves silly" to ask Dr. Shurhozelie to save the Government. They instead alleged that it was "K. G. Kenye who had planned and initiated all the moves, as mentioned above, before the Hon'ble MLAs in order to garner support for his Master"
"The truth is obvious to everyone because this conspiracy game plan played out by K.G Kenye and NPF President, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu in back stabbing the present CM Shri. T.R Zeliang, who was pressurised to step down at midnight, was witnessed by all the NPF MLAs and independent MLAs.
As per the law of the land, elected MLAs of NPF party cannot be summoned by a Rajya Sabha MP or NPF President to a private residence to pass any resolution to remove the Leader of the Legislature Party and Chief Minister from his position.
All sort of manipulation had taken place while Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu still continue to claim that he was forced by the Party to take over the Chair as CM which is nothing but a blatant lie and every elected member knows that it was stage managed by the duo, taking the name of the NPF Party".
On Sovima crisis of 2015, it also clarified that the majority of NPF MLAs then were in support of the leadership of Kaito Aye although they did not have 2/3rd majority of 24 members out of 38 NPF MLAs. However, at that point of time Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu had mentioned before three members namely G. Kaito Aye, Kuzholuzo Nienu and Chotisuh Sazo on separate occasions that if the matter was within the then he would support whoever commands the majority. Yet Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu not keep his word.
The legislators also stated that in the present case Shri T. R. Zeliang commands the support of more than 2/3rd of the NPF MLAs (36 out of 47) where a split/merger permissible under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India can easily be manoeuvred. However the 36 NPF MLAs have never made such a move as they stand by the "principles and remain true to the mandate of the people" despite the unconstitutional expulsion and suspension orders initiated by Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu and his men time and again.
"It is therefore, unbecoming of those Party Workers sitting in the Central office of the oldest regional party in the North East to be making such unwarranted statements and questioning the principles of duly elected people's representatives," he further stated.
On the claim by the party that Dr. Shurhozelie protected the former chief minister and present MP (Lok Sabha) Neiphiu Rio as well as the present Chief Minister Shri T. R. Zeliang it rebutted that the president's "memory is failing him" and instead it was because of his undemocratic decision to boycott the General Elections of 1998 that led to the freezing of the Cock symbol and had to contest as an Independent candidate for the Lok Sabha elections in 1999.
"It was only because of the intervention and involvement of the former Chief Minister and current Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha) Shri. Neiphiu Rio that the Cock symbol could be salvaged and because of which Dr. Shurhozelie has reached where he is today.
His claim that he had saved the then Chief Minister Shri. Neiphiu Rio from being toppled in 2004 is also absurd since, the then Chief Minister was never aware of such a move though there were disgruntlement among MLAs due to the measures undertaken to downsize the Ministry, but never was there a move to dislodge the Chief Minister. Dr. Shurhozelie also seems to have forgotten how the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri T. R. Zeliang rescued him from losing the Cock symbol in 2015 when the case was taken up in the ECI. Had it not been for the strong relationship of the Hon’ble Chief Minister with leaders at the Centre, perhaps Dr. Shurhozelie would not be where he is today. Even during his short tenure as the Chief Minister, Dr. Shurhozelie was able to move around and interact with the Hon'ble Prime Minister and other Central Leaders because of the initiative of Shri. T.R Zeliang. For someone who had to be rescued from political death, time and again, it is rather obnoxious of him to have so easily forgotten the sacrifices rendered for him," it further stated.
On the calling notice given by the party on local papers on Wednesday the legislators termed it as "absurd" as the central office is yet to that they have been reduced to minority since July 8, 2017.
It also warned the party central office that the MLAs are duly elected representatives having been lawfully mandated by the people of Nagaland to represent them in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and that in a democracy, the rule of majority always applies.
"NPF Central is therefore advised to stop parroting the words of its dying master and instead look back at the events that had occurred in the past before becoming the Judge, the Jury and the Executioner", it further stated.
