Liezietsu says BJP survived under his 'protection' in Nagaland

Dimapur, Feb. 3 (EMN): The president of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu on Sunday maintained that his party’s association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the past is different to that of the current relationship between the BJP and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). The veteran politician issued a press release in response to an earlier statement from the NDPP chief, Chingwang Konyak. Addressing Konyak as “an elderly man and my friend,” Liezietsu expressed dislike for what he said was “paper war.” “Let no political party takes (sic) the Nagas for a ride.  Let truth prevails (sic).   I am sorry to say that I hate paper war. Therefore, if need be, I want to throw an open challenge to have public debate on the whole matter,” he said. In 2003, Liezietsu said, he had invited all non-Congress political parties to join him to fight against Congress rule in Nagaland. “BJP along with NDM and few other national parties including some leaders from Congress party joined me. BJP was in opposition in Delhi that time. Since then BJP was with me for 15 years. I repeat, they were with me and they survived under my protection. “During this period, we were on our own and they were on their own without any interference or imposition as far as party matters were concerned. So, your (NDPP) association with BJP today and my (NPF) association with BJP in the past are quite different.  I always pay due respect to all political parties including national parties but I never worship  national parties in my life  because I am regional in everything and my commitment  is  to defend regional interests,” he stated. According to him, Konyak was aware that his party is now running a de facto BJP government in Nagaland “whereas in the past, BJP was attached to us with one or two MLAs or sometime without any MLA, and that is the difference. I had never conceded a single seat to BJP in election during the past 15 years but his party had conceded 20 seats to BJP the same evening they wedded together; and that is the difference.” He went on to say that in his speech during the NPF’s recent meeting, he had mentioned about nine political parties like National Convention of Nagaland, Naga People’s Party, Naga National Democratic Party, Democratic Labour Party, Nationalist Democratic Movement, United Naga Democratic Party etc., which were formed at different times during the last five decades by Naga leaders but disappeared one after another due to lack of political ideology.  “As for NPF, we survive for 56 years now against all odds because our political ideology is deeply rooted in the unique history of the Naga people,” he said. About the NDPP’s motto, Liezietsu said he of aware of ‘Facta non verba’ being the motto of St. Edmund’s College in Shillong because he was a student of said institution. “Looking back from the literary perspective, if they have not taken permission for its use, their motto is to be treated as stolen goods. If they have taken care of the established norm while adopting it, matter ends there,” he said. On the suggestion that the NPF flag is a reversed French national flag, he said that though the colours were same “my flag is horizontal whereas French flag is vertical. Horizontal and vertical are two different things.” Also referring to the statement concerning his removal as the chief minister of Nagaland, Liezietsu said, “I agree with him because it was, indeed, unceremonious. But let me tell him that I have no regret for it because I have never asked for that chair. But I was rather compelled to take up the job to save the situation created by someone in which we have lost precious lives and more than 20 government offices were burnt down in the capital etc. “Though I was not a member of the NLA I am aware of the Constitutional provision and, therefore, I have taken the stand to face the challenge.  It was not me but because of the Providence hands, I have successfully brought back the situation to normal in one month’s time,” he stated. According to him, he had a serious meeting with all the agitating groups “and talked to them as man-to-man and I did my best to remove the irritants to save the situation.” Therefore, Liezietsu said, he has no regret for being removed as chief minister. “Whether Mr. Chingwang knows about the reason behind my removal by BJP government at the Centre in connivance with some tall leaders in Nagaland. I do not feel bad even if anyone mocks me in this manner like he does because I believe in the wisdom of my people who understand the very reason in this drama,” read the statement.