NFHRCC asks Azo to withdraw defamation suit by April 30

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, APRIL 23 The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has asked former minister for Roads and Bridges, Kuzholuzo Neinu (Azo) to withdraw the defamation case he had filed against the committee by April 30 next, while reminding him of their previous two meetings in which both the parties have affirmed to settle the issue “amicably.” Addressing newsmen here today, NFHRCC officials said that the committee had on October 12, 2014 met the former minister at the official residence of former DC Dimapur in which it was agreed that the misunderstanding between the two parties would be settled amicably. “It is also expedient to state that the amicable settlement on October 10, 2014 was re-affirmed at the official residence of Azo on October 29, 2014,” the NFHRCC officials added. Consequently, the contractors concerned have withdrawn their lawsuits “in the spirit of forgive and forget.” Considering this backdrop, the NFHRCC has asked the former minister to withdraw the lawsuit. The NFHRCC officials informed that a meeting of the committee held on April 22 last had decided that failure on the part of Azo to comply with its demand within the stipulated time would force the NFHRCC to file a “cheating case” against the former minister. For any repercussion thereof, the NFHRCC officials warned, Azo alone would be held responsible. The committee also stated that it has resolved to keep its door open to “all tribes who want to join the peoples’ movement” towards constructing the foothills road. On the misunderstanding between NFHRCC and Konyak Union, Mon, the committee officials were grateful to the ENPO for their intervention to “defuse” the same. It was hopeful of settling the matter “amicably within not time.” The committee has further appealed the Sumis and the Rengmas to “kindly settle the alignment at the earliest” at Niuland and Rengmapani sector in consultation with the department concerned in order to avoid any hiccups while constructing the road. It stated satisfaction over the progress of construction works so far at Ao sector and Doyang Bridge. The committee however quoted the contractors saying that they were yet to receive their bills for the work done. It appealed the department concerned to release the money for the works completed and also issue work orders for all the remaining sectors.