Dimapur, Feb. 1 (EMN): The Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) on Friday stated that it never boycotted the Statehood Day, Hornbill Festival, and the Republic Day as accused by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio during the consultative meeting at Chumukedima on Jan. 31.
In a statement, the NPF said: “The recently concluded Republic Day in the state was boycotted by the Naga Students Federation in line with the directive of the North-East Students Organisation and not by the Naga Peoples’ Front in any manner. These fabricated and wild allegations of Neiphiu Rio which was disseminated to the civil societies, tribe hohos and NGOs with the intention of confusing the general public is outrightly (sic) dismissed and condemned in the strongest term.”
According to the NPF, the chief minister had convened the consultative meeting on Jan. 31 to cover up his mistakes. “When the bill was proposed in the Lok Sabha on July 15, 2016 and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on August 12, 2016; Rio was the lone MP representing Nagaland in the Lok Sabha.
“He was Lok Sabha MP from May 2014 to February 2018 and if not for facilitating such affairs between his people and the Parliament, what otherwise was the purpose of Rio representing the Naga people at the Lok Sabha? It was his bounden duty to consult and take into confidence the voice of his people as the said Bill was referred to the JPC for examination with direction for onward submission to the Speaker for consideration and passing of the bill by Parliament which took over a year,” read the statement.
It also stated that the NDPP members who attended the NE regional parties’ convention at Guwahati on Jan. 29 could arrive only 15 minutes before the meeting ended. “The NPF ask the chief minister since his government humbled down to the cry of the public and decided to reject the Bill, will his party MP Lok Sabha withdraw his vote who voted in favour of the Bill to passed (sic) in the Lok Sabha?” it stated.
