EMN
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 29
The Noke led NPF has alleged that the statements issued by the ‘minority’ chief minister, TR Zeliang and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) relating to his meeting with the Prime Minister and the BJP president are false and fabricated and meant to mislead the public. “The statements of him meeting the two central leaders were not issued either by the Prime Minister’s Office nor the BJP President’s Office. Our leaders who are presently in Delhi have confirmed from top BJP leaders in the State and in Delhi that the minority chief minister and his office had fabricated the purported assurances of the Prime Minister and the BJP president,” the statement of Press and Media Cell of Noke led NPF said.
It then claimed that the BJP has been very clear that they would remain neutral and that they would not interfere with the internal matters of the NPF and therefore the question of the Prime Minister and the BJP President giving assurances to the minority chief minister does not arise. “The minority chief minister should not misuse the names of the top leaders of the country in his desperate bid to cling on to power in an undemocratic and unconstitutional manner. For one day he may be able to fool the people but he will be fully responsible for his false propaganda in the days to come,” it added.
Meanwhile, Imkong Imchen, spokesperson of Legislature Party of the Noke led NPF has expressed, “It is indeed unfortunate to observe that the minority chief minister TR Zeliang, has stooped to such a low level that he has even sold off the Honorable Prime Minister of the country and BJP president. His propaganda of lies and deceit will not convince the people but rather it has cheapened the chair of the Nagaland chief minister.”
According to Imkong Imchen, when the BJP Central leadership has publicly stated that the BJP will remain neutral and have urged the NPF to resolve its internal matter there is no question of any other BJP leader making contradictory statements or assurances. The present political situation is a scenario where TR Zeliang has lost the support and confidence of the majority of the NPF legislators and therefore the Central leaders in Delhi cannot and will not assure any group of support, Imkong added. He then said that rather they have clearly said that they will stand by the majority. There is much to say on the utterances of TR Zeliang on his meeting with the Prime Minister but we will reserve ‘our comments as we sincerely respect’ the Prime Minister and will not drag his name and office into a problem which is internal to the NPF. “TR Zeliang should have some semblance of shame to be rushing from pillar to post begging for the support of other political parties like the BJP, Congress, JD(U), NCP, etc when the overwhelming majority of the MLAs in his own party have withdrawn support to his leadership. His best option is to step aside and resign gracefully so that the state is not taken to new depths under his minority leadership,” Imkong Imchen added.
He said the false propaganda spread by the minority chief minister TR Zeliang and the ‘ex-NPF president’ Dr. Shurhozelie is their last desperate attempt to stay afloat as they have lost the majority in the legislature as well as the party organization. The NPF under Noke Wangnao is the legitimate party organization as we have the clear majority of leaders in the party organization at all levels and moreover the majority of elected NPF MLAs and both the MPs are firmly behind the leadership of Noke Wangnao and G. Kaito Aye. In order to overcome the panic situation in their camp, they have resorted to propaganda war and spreading of lies and false information. Such a strategy will have no impact as the truth will prevail basing on the facts of the matter, he added.
“Dr. Shurhozelie is still trying his best to lure MLAs by offering them ministerial berths even in Delhi but everyone he has contacted have politely turned down his offers and have advised him to respect the view of the majority. Why is he still resorting to such strategy? The NPF is not the private property of a single person or section. The party will be operated and its functions will be guided by the majority that has the mandate of the common people. The election commission of India will never allow any minority group to rule over any political party in the country and allow democracy to be suppressed in the world’s largest democratic country,” Imkong Imchen stated.
“We further condemn the manner in which the honorable Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and MLAs including the Deputy Speaker have been kept under lock and key at Dr. Shurhozelie’s hotel in Kohima. Our colleagues are willing to join us but due to their forced captivity they are unable to come out of Dr. Shurhozelie’s hotel. They are not even allowed to meet their family members and party supporters. We once again urge former president Dr. Shurhozelie and minority chief minister TR Zeliang to immediately release them and allow them to join hands with the majority,” Imkong Imchen demanded.
