Dimapur, Nov. 24 (EMN): The NPF group headed by Chief Minister TR Zeliang, and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio on Friday rebutted what it stated was ‘incorrect information’ spread by its rival group led by Dr Shurhozelie Liezitsu.
The group issued a press statement seeking to ‘rectify the bogus and inflated figure of delegates of those who attended the general convention on 22 Nov 2017 convened by our splinter group under Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu’.
“The total number of delegates provided by our rival group is a staggering 21,144 (twenty-one thousand one hundred forty-four) which is a pure bogus and inflated figure. The fact of the matter is, whole throughout the year, various social and sports events are held in the Kohima local ground and the most prominent amongst them is the one organized by the Naga wrestling Association, the Naga wrestling meet." “During this tournament aptly coined as ‘mother of all tournaments’ not even a square feet of land can be seen when viewed aerially at the local ground. Through the years, the highest turn out has not crossed 15000 though It may be added that one of the highest turnout of spectators in Kohima local ground was in 2015 Naga Wrestling Association (NWA) silver jubilee wherein a little above 14,000 spectators converged to witness the mega event,” it claimed.
According to the group, the highest ever turnout of spectators and attendance recorded in a football match at Kohima local ground was just around 12000, during the “unforgettable historic match between Sikim United FC and locals favourite (sic) Life Sports” which was played on 2nd October 2011 at Kohima local ground.
“Therefore we can safely conclude that the maximum sitting capacity of the local ground including the galleries, the football pitch and the space between the galleries and the pitch cannot be more than 15000. It will be in the fitness of things to recall that during the NPF golden jubilee celebration in 2013 the delegate from all over the Northeast India was around 9,500.
“Conversely, if one glances through the visuals of that day, 1/4th of the ground can be clearly seen without any chairs not to talk about delegates. Apart from that, empty chairs covered 1/5th of the occupied space. Assuming that the ground was packed to its limits, where did the remaining 5000 find the space to stand or seat?”
Also, it stated, ‘a large chunk of delegates were happy go lucky (sic) public drawn from the various corners of Kohima town. Those merry makers and casual visitors of the town were lured by the promises of Rs 500 payment after the convention scheme.
“We are confident that the adjudicating body will not take into account, the imaginary number of delegates proclaimed by our splinter group,” it stated.
