‘Retention of Rio will be unfavorable to the interests of the party and the government’
Dimapur, May 17 : Following the recommendation for suspension received from Disciplinary Action Committee, Naga People’s Front President Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu today suspended MP Neiphiu Rio from the party allegedly for anti-party activities with immediate effect.
Interestingly in the two-paged suspension order, except for the allegation of anti-party activities, there were no specific mentions or rebuttal to the earlier replies (which was published in all the leading newspapers) to the showcause notice submitted by the MP.
According to the suspension order, the member of Lok Sabha from Nagaland ceases to be a primary and active member of the political party of the Naga People’s Front until further order. He shall however continue to be bound by the whip of the Naga People’s Front on the floor of Lok Sabha as per judicial decisions of the Apex Court.
The suspension order stated that two show cause notices (Dated 4th April, 2016, and 13th April, 2016) were issued to Neiphiu Rio seeking his explanation as to why suitable action under the NPF Constitution be initiated against him for his anti-party activities.
The replies of Rio to the show cause notices were received by the chairman, Disciplinary Action Committee, NPF with copy to the NPF Party President on 14th April, 2016 and 27th April, 2016.
The Disciplinary Action Committee, at its meetings held on May 4 considered the replies of Rio and after proper application of mind to the matter, recommended to the party president the suspension of Rio from the Naga People’s Front.
The president of the party, after proper application of mind to the material before him, came to the conclusion that Rio, ever since his demission of office of the Chief Minister of Nagaland, had been indulging in activities squarely contrary to the aims and objectives of the NPF.
The party president also concluded that Rio had indulged in anti-party activities in order to dislodge the party’s government headed by T.R. Zeliang so that he can regain the position of the chief minister.
The party president further concluded that Rio’s anti-party activities were singularly aimed at dividing the party so that, at the cost of the party, he could reposition himself in power in the party and the government, as would be evident from his faction filing a petition before the Election Commission of India for claiming control of the party, which ultimately failed when the Election Commission of India, by its order (Dated 27.3.2015), directed the NPF factions to arrive at reconciliation.
The party president further came to conclusion that, despite declaration of the reconciliation at the General Convention of the Party on April 30, Rio continued with his anti-party activities thereby disrupting unity and the peaceful atmosphere within the party.
The party president came to the final conclusion that the retention of Rio as a primary and active member of the Naga People’s Front will be inimical to the interests of the party and the government.
The party president also came to the final conclusion that the suspension of Rio from the party has become inevitable to keep utmost peace both in the party and the government so that the noble aims and objectives of the party are carried out amongst the Naga masses in a seamless fashion.
Eastern Mirror adds.
It may be noted that Neiphiu Rio is one of the tallest leader of the NPF who was instrumental in forming the NPF from the erstwhile NPC after he parted ways with the Congress primarily on the issue of the prolonged Indo-Naga political imbroglio. Since then he led the party to victory three consecutive terms; 2003, 2008 and 2013. He also championed the cause of the Nagas within the ambit of the constitution of India by first changing the nomenclature of the party from Nagaland Peoples Front to Naga People’s Front in 2010, a move that enabled the party to go beyond the state of Nagaland. Beating all odds, and with opposition from the Manipur cabinet, and some valley based civil societies the Manipur unit of the NPF was launched in 2011. Then after attempts since 2009, in 2012 NPF was launched in Arunachal Pradesh facing stiff opposition from many quarters. The then Congress leaders who are now part of the present government were very vocal against the expansion of the NPF to the neighbouring states citing it had created ‘hatred among the neighbours’. The current series of events is either a major rift between the former chief minister and the party president or in the next few days it might unfold a changed stance of the party and the present government.