Resigned BJP members respond to criticism

Dimapur, Nov. 16 (EMN): A press release representing resigned members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit of Kohima who were said to have ‘joined’ in support of Member of Parliament Neiphiu Rio have issued a statement responding to what it called the ‘rebuttal of our resignation from BJP party.’ The press release, issued on Thursday, was appended by L Gwatilo Kent, “general secretary (resigned).” ‘The resigned officials of BJP Kohima district and its frontal organisations are dumbfounded to go through the rebuttal of our resignation from BJP party and joining hands to support former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio on Nov. 13,’ the press release stated. “We are specially taken aback on the statement issued by 12th Tseminyu mandal president, Shoyhunlo Kemp which was published in the local dailies on 16th November 2017 saying that the office bearers of mandal had also resigned while saying that ‘only individuals had quit the BJP party.’” Combined with the statement were photographs of documents, “signatory evidence,” and a list of resigned 21 officials from the 12th Tseminyu BJP mandal. The list includes two vice presidents, a general secretary, two secretaries, nine executive members, presidents of Mahila Morcha and Kisan Morcha, two vice presidents of Yuva Morcha, vice presidents of Kisan Morcha and S/T Morcha and a secretary of Kisan Morcha, the press release explained. “We are not individuals but comprise the whole of the 12th Tseminyu Mandal office bearers except the president himself, who might have been lured with promises of special benefits lest he was with us. Moreover, we would like to remind Kemp of his confession and signature to accept whatever we jointly decide, of which we have evidence,” the press release added.