Dimapur, Feb. 15 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Friday asked Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio “how and who in the NPF party” gave him direction, as per his claim, to “remain silent” on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill when the latter was a Lok Sabha MP.
The NPF issued a statement pointing out that the NDPP has a legislator who had served for five years as the state’s home minister previously, before becoming the chief minister of Nagaland for 11 years.
“Now simple mathematics would point out that the person had more time than the leader of opposition, who served for a mere 3 and half years as CM amidst endless turmoil created by someone who wanted to stay relevant in state politics,” it stated.
The NPF also dismissed the NDPP’s “consistent stand” vis-à-vis the Citizenship Bill as “the greatest joke that any political party can come up with.” It also termed the rival party’s claim that “important issues like the CAB and matters relating to Nagaland were not listed initially” as the pinnacle of baloney.
“Also, the NPF party would like to reiterate our inability to comprehend the excitement that the NDPP derives from knowing that Mr. Tokheho Yepthomi absconded from parliament when his presence was most needed,” it stated.
“On the charge of the NDPP that the NPF is trying to dilute the special provisions under Article 371(A), the NPF party would like to, in no uncertain terms, state that the NPF, as the NDPP has rightly pointed out, being the oldest regional party in the region has always put the interest and well-being of Nagas ahead of everything, and will continue so.
“At the same time, we are not as myopic as the NDPP and we tread on important subjects with caution so that the interest and the future of Nagas is not jeopardised. And that is how we have composed ourselves in the matter of CAB 2016 unlike the NDPP who were ever ready to do anything to the extent of selling out the rights of Nagas for the sake of continuing in power. We welcome a threadbare debate on the floor of the House rather than resorting to cheap rhetoric, which the NDPP has mastered,” the statement read.
