DIMAPUR, AUGUST 2 (MExN): The NPF Legislature Party which supports Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today issued a statement asking the NPF central to “stop parroting the words of its master” and “instead look at the events that had occurred in the past before becoming judge, jury and executioner.”
The statement issued by Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Tokheho Yepthomi further termed the calling notice issued by the NPF central as “absurd.” The group led by Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu “have been reduced to a minority since July 8, 2017,” it stated, while adding, “May it be reminded to those in the Central Office that in a Democracy, the rule of Majority always applies and therefore, even in the present scenario Democracy will prevail and the Party workers should realise this and join the majority in order to uphold the constitution of the Party and its Government.”
On the events leading to Dr. Liezietsu becoming the CM earlier this year, it questioned: “Was it the MLAs who had ‘begged, beseeched, pleaded and almost sobbed themselves silly’ to ask Dr Shurhozelie to save the Government or was it KG Kenye who had planned and initiated all the moves?”
The NPF Legislature Party said it was a “conspiracy game plan played out by KG Kenye and NPF President, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu in back stabbing the present CM TR Zeliang, who was pressurized to step down at midnight,” adding that this was “witnessed by all the NPF MLAs and independent MLAs.”
On the Sovima crisis of 2015, the statement clarified that the majority of NPF MLAs then were in support of the leadership of Kaito Aye although they did not have 2/3rd majority of 24 members out of 38 NPF MLAs.
“However, at that point of time, Dr Liezietsu had mentioned before three members, namely G Kaito Aye, Kuzholuzo Nienu and Chotisuh Sazo, then Speaker, on separate occasions that if the matter was within the Party then he would support whoever commands the majority,” it added.
“Yet we all know how the story unveiled because of Dr. SL not keeping his word. Since the MLAs lacked the requisite number of 31 in a House of 60, they had to back away from their move to change the leader. Nevertheless, in the present case T.R. Zeliang commands the support of more than 2/3rd of the NPF MLAs (36 out of 47) where a split/merger permissible under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India can easily be manoeuvred,” it claimed.
It however said that the 36 NPF MLAs have till date “never made such a move as they stand by principles and remain true to the mandate of the people, despite the unconstitutional expulsion and suspension orders…”
On claims by the NPF central that Dr Liezietsu had “protected the former Chief Minister and present MP, Neiphiu Rio as well as the present CM, the statement alleged that it was because of Dr Liezietsu’s “undemocratic decision to boycott the General Elections of 1998 that led to the freezing of the Cock symbol.”
“It was only because of the intervention and involvement of the former CM and MP, Neiphiu Rio that the Cock symbol could be salvaged,” it added. The statement further termed Dr Liezietsu’s claim that he had saved the then CM, Neiphiu Rio from being toppled in 2004 as “absurd since, the then CM was never aware of such a move though there were disgruntlement among MLAs due to the measures undertaken to downsize the Ministry, but never was there a move to dislodge the Chief Minister.”
It also reminded that the present CM, TR Zeliang had “rescued Dr Liezietsu from losing the Cock symbol in 2015 when the case was taken up in the ECI,” pointing to the former’s “strong relationship” with central leaders.
