Dimapur, May 19 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front has stated that its decision to end alliance with the BJP in Manipur after the Lok Sabha elections was “solely to do with the NPF party” and its prerogative to take decisions that are in the party’s best interest.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NPF claimed that its four legislators had been “one of the pillars on which the N Biren Singh government stood.” However the BJP-led government failed to acknowledge it and failed to fulfil commitments, it stated.
The NPF wondered why the NDPP was “fretting over the decision of the NPF party in the state of Manipur?” According to the party, the ‘hiccups’ of the NDPP indicate a “sure sign of confusion and mistrust that runs deep in their party setup and also with their coalition partners.”
“It would do well for the NDPP party to stop instigating the NPF party to bring down the BJP-led government in Manipur,” the NPF stated.
A separate statement from the party patriarch, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu maintained that the NPF has no regrets over their decision to sever ties with the BJP. “We have our own principles to defend and protect the interest of our people. Perhaps realising the reality, they themselves walked away from the alliance in search of greener pasture.”
On NDPP referring to his contesting the 1999 election as an independent candidate, he said that in 1998 the Naga Hoho had given its ‘solution and not election’ call. “To us, solution to our political problem was the first priority and therefore, we did not hesitate to risk our career which we considered to be a sacrifice and did not participate in the elections in response to the call given by the Naga people.
“Many of the present NDPP leaders were in Congress that time including the present chief minister who was a very strong man in Congress that time. For our non-participation in the elections, the Election Commission of India had withdrawn my party’s registration and freeze (sic) the symbol ‘cock’. I decided to fight not to win but to regain the party’ registration and its symbol ‘cock’.
“I could not contest on party ticket and I could not use the symbol ‘cock’ because of what has been already stated above. Therefore, I fought as an independent candidate with bus as my symbol to regain the registration as well as the symbol of the party and I won in both. I contested under a situation where Congress had full house of 60 members whereas my party, ‘cock’ party, had no MLA in a 60-member House due to our non-participation in the elections.”
According to him, the NDPP leaders appear to be concentrating more on destroying the NPF than delivering the goods to the people as a government.
“Last but not the least they call me a liar and a president on bail. I have challenged them to a public debate on the matter and they failed to give their response. I am an orthodox Baptist Christian. I have, time and again declared that I will go to any extent to defend my Christian faith.
“I am born free and I will continue to worship free and without fear in as much as Nagaland is giving freedom to all other religions to worship freely as enshrined in the Constitution of India. NDPP filed case against me because I have appealed to the people to vote for their faith. The case is still lying in the court. Why not come and arrest me if they considered that I am wrong in saying so?” he dared.
