Dimapur, Feb. 12: The chief minister of Nagaland has denied reports that he had asked community leaderships to let him ‘stay in power till March.’ The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) issued a press release on Sunday calling the claims “absolutely false, delusive and concocted with the malicious intention of doing mischief to the image and integrity,” of the chief minister.
The reports had said that he had asked a delegation of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council to convey to the “NTAC and the JCC to let him stay in power till March, the end of the current financial year.”
“This claim, made by one Nyekha, is absolutely false, delusive and concocted with the malicious intention of doing mischief to the image and integrity of the honourable chief minister. That a leader of the JCC could stoop so low to make such a fanciful allegation and that too, dragging in the name of the revered NBCC in his flight of fancy, is deplorable,” the CMO remarked.
The chief minister stated to hold the NBCC in ‘highest of esteem’ and appreciated the efforts it has been making to find an amicable solution to the imbroglio. He has urged against using the good name of the NBCC ‘in vain.’
“The chief minister has had a series of meetings with the NBCC in the past two weeks but at no point of time had he ever made such a disgraceful request, or had such a thought ever entered his mind. The chief minister is of the view that responsible leaders should make responsible statements,” the CMO added.
NBCC responds to report
Also, the NBCC has refuted reports about said claim. The council issued a press release on Sunday. “The news regarding the chief minister requesting to be in office till the end of the financial year which appeared in some local dailies came to NBCC as a shock. NBCC has not received such request from the government during the course of our discussions nor have we conveyed that message to any party involved,” the NBCC stated.
The general secretary of the NBCC, Zelhou Keyho, appended the press release.
“If such a statement has been made by any member of the NBCC team we want to make it clear that it does not represent the official communication of the NBCC mediating team. This clarification is made to clear the air that no such idea or request has ever surfaced in the course of our conversation or been tabled by the government to NBCC,” it added.
CM to address the State on radio
Chief Minister TR Zeliang will be delivering an address to the state tomorrow evening, Monday, at 7.30 pm on All India Radio Kohima. Listeners are requested to tune in and listen to the address.
