Nagaland BJP alleges political motive; points finger at ‘contending rivals’
Dimapur, Feb. 18 (EMN): Another ‘assassination attempt’ on a candidate set to contest the Nagaland assembly elections has been reported. This time from Wokha district.
A statement from the Nagaland unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sun. has expressed ‘outrage and concern’ at what it informed was an attempt to assassinate one of the party’s legislators Mmhonlumo Kikon—contesting from 40th Bhandari assembly constituency—on the evening of Feb. 17.
According to the BJP, the incident occurred near Yimpang village in Wokha district while Kikon was returning from an election campaign. “We are shocked at this blatant attack on one of BJP’s most prominent and respected leader and consider this completely unacceptable.
“This politically motivated attack aimed at silencing one of the most eloquent, dedicated and uncompromising voices speaking in defence of the rights of people of Bhandari assembly constituency is totally unwarranted,” it stated.
The party demanded the district authorities take ‘immediate steps to secure’ Kikon’s safety and prosecute the persons behind the assassination attempt ‘whosoever they may represent.’ It pointed fingers at unnamed rival candidates.
“This conspiratorial attack carried out by unwanted elements, at the behest of contending rivals, is part of a disturbing escalation of violence against our party cadres in various parts of the state so far. We appeal to the state election officials to investigate this attempted murder as well as other similar stray incidents involving non-adherence of election Code of Conduct in the state,” it stated.
According to the BJP, ‘numerous incidents’ involving attacks on its party ‘cadres’ in various parts of the state was an indication of a growing pattern of politically motivated violence by rival parties which must be halted before it escalates ‘beyond control.’
