Party issues statement listing NPF leader’s ‘clandestine activities’ in attempt to return to power
Dimapur, Oct. 4 (EMN): In a startling statement, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has accused the Naga People’s Front (NPF) leader TR Zeliang of tempting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Delhi into forming an alliance with the NPF in Nagaland after removing the present NPF chief Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu.
The NDPP issued a statement on Thursday stating it was compelled to inform the people about the “clandestine activities” of Zeliang. “On 26th September, 2018, Mr. TR Zeliang along with his family member met the central leadership of the BJP in New Delhi with his grandiose plans of coming back to power as chief minister of Nagaland. He informed the BJP leadership that the term of the present NPF president Dr. Shurhozelie is coming to an end very soon and that a new leader would be elected as NPF president and thereafter the NPF will align with the BJP.
“Mr. Zeliang assured cooperation to the BJP after the end of Dr. Shurhozelie’s term citing the fact that the present NPF president was anti-BJP. In continuation of his lies, he informed the BJP leadership that he has the support of the independent MLA, the JD (U) and the NPP and that some NDPP members were also willing to join him.
“He assured the BJP that if he was made the chief minister, he would allocate them whatever portfolio of their choice and that both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha seats from Nagaland would be given to the BJP. He even assured them that he would not field any candidate against the BJP in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Lok Sabha seat,” the statement read.
However, it stated, the BJP leadership by saying that the BJP-NDPP alliance is a pre-poll alliance with a seat-sharing partnership and the prime minister came to Nagaland to declare the chief ministerial candidate of the PDA-coalition. He was also told that the BJP, being a responsible national party, would not betray the confidence and support of the people and cannot go back on its political commitments just for the sake of Zeliang’s ambition to become chief minister.
“Mr. Zeliang was clearly told that the leadership of Mr. Neiphiu Rio has the mandate of the people and the support of the NDA leadership and there was no question of any change of stand whatsoever.”
However, ‘despite being rejected by the BJP leadership’, Zeliang lied to the NPF leadership in Nagaland that he has the assurance and support of the BJP high command to form a new government in Nagaland, it stated. “He even informed the NPF leadership that it may be necessary for some NPF MLAs to merge with the BJP and that the NPF should not seek their disqualification since they have to take over power under any means.”
The NDPP assured that despite such “clandestine activities and spread of habitual lies” from Zeliang, the PDA government is firm and stable in an environment of trust and cooperation. It also expressed the PDA’s full confidence on the NDA leadership in Delhi.
“Poor governance, corrupt leadership and betrayal of the people on all burning issues were the hallmark of the NPF leadership especially under Mr. TR Zeliang. The icing on the cake was the false declaration of Mr. TR Zeliang’s educational qualification wherein he falsely stated that he had graduated from Kohima College under NEHU whereas he had actually failed in all the subjects. He had stated then that he would give an appropriate answer at the right time. The people of Nagaland are still awaiting Mr. TR Zeliang and the NPF to provide that appropriate answer on his false declaration of educational qualification.
“Unless both the NPF and Mr. TR Zeliang apologise to the citizens on this issue both, entities have no moral authority to even dream of leading the state. As for Mr. TR Zeliang, he shamelessly continues to practice his habitual lying whereas he should be held accountable for massive corruption, mis-governance and diversion of funds for farmers, student’s scholarships and development funds,” it stated.
The PDA government, it asserted, is sailing smoothly with the full support of the NDA government in a cohesive manner ‘and making its best efforts to deliver good governance and all-round development to boost economic growth under the able and progressive leadership of Neiphiu Rio.’
“The NDPP is a participating member of the NDA at the Centre and also of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) at the regional level and the party remains committed to its principles of bringing positive change to pave the way for progress in letter and spirit,” it stated.
