Dimapur, July 11 (EMN): Former chief minister TR Zeliang on Tuesday has censured the statements made by Yitachu of him being offered chair of the chief minister that he declined, was a concoction of untruths with few acts and instead claimed that it was move made by the Shurhozelie to create a rift between him and former chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
A press release issued by TR Zeliang stated that he received a call from an emissary of the NPF party requesting him to return and take over the chair of the chief minister with a condition that the MLAs owing allegiance to Shri Neiphiu Rio to be left behind to affect a reunion with Dr. Shurhozelie.
" I considered this condition as a fatal blow to the unity within the NPF which is firmly emerging despite this crisis. I further presumed that Dr. Shurhozelie will definitely put one more but unacceptable condition of protecting his 8 Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries who are now attached to his apron. The next day, by noon, after talking to Shri Rio and my supporting MLAs, I declined the offer. I indeed had forgone power that was coming to me on a platter for the party's unity. I never wanted to betray those with whom I made agreements for larger unity within the NPF. he further stated.
He therefore stated that "it is absolutely wrong on the part of Shri Yitachu to spread misinformation and canards that I refused to accept the office of the Chief Minister from Dr. Shurhozelie. The offer being conditional and intended to drive a wedge between me and Shri Rio, I declined it."
He also added that as it is the case in a democracy he would like to abide by the number game and not craft of compromising the unity of the party and so have staked claim to "form the next NPF led DAN Government" on the numerical strength of 44 MLAs; 37 NPF and 7 Independents.
TR Zeliang also recounted that Shurhozelie has been guiding the NPF party almost since its inception and was a fatherly figure to almost all the party men not only for his age, but also of his capacity to guide the party through. Therefore he would not like to spill in public domain the commitments made to him by the veteran leader to restore the chair of the chief minister back to him.
Instead he stated that he "would like to gently remind him that, with 44 MLAs supporting me, he should be able to read the writing on the wall."
"Gracefulness and gratefulness are indeed qualities that an erudite person like Dr. Shurhozelie should be able to display when confronted with hard facts and reality. I facilitated a smooth transition over to him and he should be able to reciprocate. I will never accept conditions that divide the NPF party in an election year. For me, unity of the Party and unity of the Naga people are uppermost." he further added.
He also lambasted the manner in which the new chairman of DAN was appointed without the presence of all the constituent MLAs of the alliance.
" It is shameful that those in power who appointed Shri Kuzholuzo as DAN Chairman, did not even realize that he lacked the support of 4 BJP MLAs and the Independent MLAs, " he stated.
"As Merentoshi had pointed out, Azo's appointment is illegal and foul in the eyes of law. I need not elaborate on this."
(Related statements on Page 6)
