EMN
DIMAPUR, APRIL 27
THE member of the Lok Sabha for Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, has released a statement responding to the recent show-cause notice issued against him by the Naga People’s Front (NPF) alleging–among other allegations–fomenting division and engaging in acts of indiscipline against the organization.
The former chief minister of Nagaland issued his reply on Wednesday addressed to the convener of the NPF’s Disciplinary Action Committee. Some of the points of contentions that the Member of Parliament responded to included implied charges of the party that he engineered division; questions over his commitment to the party’s leadership and NPF’s ‘principles,’ among others.
The allegations notwithstanding, the MP added that he was steadfast in his commitment to the NPF’s election manifestos of 2003, 2008 and 2013 and that would continue to work for the welfare of the people and the state of Nagaland in particular.
To the issue of the recent division in the NPF and the subsequent “reconciliation,” the former chief minister said that being one of the founding members of the party, he had always endeavoured unity and had ‘desired true reconciliation in letter and spirit.’ He explained his position to events and questions associated with the movement of dissension in the party in 2015, the subsequent ‘reconciliation,’ and his contribution to ensuring that the organizations was not divided. Rio also clarified his position about venturing into the parliament. “I agree that it was my decision to go to Parliament after 2013 DAN government took over for the third consecutive time. In our first parliamentary meeting with elected Members in March 2013, in my address, I had expressed my interest to go to Parliament. The primary purpose of my venture into national politics was to hasten the peace process and the ongoing political dialogue in tune with our NPF manifesto,” he said.
To the charges of his returning to ‘state politics’ and the implication about destabilizing the NPF and toppling its leadership, Neiphiu Rio stated: “...you have alleged that I am tacitly indulging in destabilizing and continuously playing to topple the present government by hatching conspiracy within the NPF elected members for change of leadership and I am trying to come back to the state politics through the backdoor.” Rio made it clear that “I have not spoken to any party leader or elected member of any intention to return to state politics. I do not have to enter in the state politics through backdoor because I have gone out of the state politics from the front door with the approval of the party and the support of the people.” Here, Rio noted that the word “elements” had been referred several times.
To the charges that he ‘deviated’ from the commitment to work for political solution, Neiphiu Rio denied it. He stated: “I would like to make it clear that I have never deviated from my declared stand on the Naga political issue and I have tirelessly strived for bringing early political settlement that is honourable and acceptable to the people. I would like to state that I still stand by the policies and political stand of the NPF party, especially our declared commitments in our election manifestos of 2003, 2008 and 2013.”
Besides, warding off charges against him, the Member of Parliament also elaborated his position on various aspects of development, the party’s working, issues concerning the leadership of Noke and current chief minister TR Zeliang, and ‘the educational qualification issue,’ among others.
Neiphiu Rio has requested the committee to withdraw the show-cause notice in the greater interest of understanding, unity and reconciliation of NPF.
“I remain steadfast on the commitments of our election manifestos of 2003, 2008 and 2013 and I will continue to work tirelessly for the welfare of the people and the state of Nagaland in particular,” the statement added.
