Kohima, May 17 (MExN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) President, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu has ordered the suspension of Nagaland State Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio from the primary and active membership of the party with immediate effect and until further orders.
The ‘Suspension Order’ to this effect was passed by the NPF President today. Following this, Rio ceases to be a primary and active member of the political party. However, he shall 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 order has been forwarded to the Speaker, Lok Sabha, the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, the leaders of legislature parties in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha with whom the NPF has alliance, the Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the leaders of legislature parties in the NLA with whom NPF has alliance.
How
The NPF’s Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) had sent two show-cause notices to Neiphiu Rio, on April 4 and April 13 this year, seeking his explanation on “why suitable action under the NPF Constitution should not be initiated against him for his anti-party activities.”
Rio had responded to the notices on April 14 and April 27 respectively. In the latter, he had requested the DAC to withdraw the show-cause notices issued to him in the “greater interest of understanding and unity of the NPF, and in the true spirit of reconciliation and oneness of the NPF party.”
Having “considered” the replies and “proper application of mind to the matter,” the DAC, however, recommended the President of NPF for Rio’s suspension from the party.
Why
Following the recommendation, the NPF President concluded that the Lok Sabha MP, “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” and that he had “indulged in anti-party activities in order to dislodge the party’s Government” so that he could “regain the position of the Chief Minister.”
The ‘Suspension Order’ also noted that the MP’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.”
However, despite declaration of reconciliation at the NPF General Convention, the MP “continued with his anti-party activities thereby disrupting unity and the peaceful atmosphere within the party,” the Party President concluded, noting that retaining Rio would be “inimical to the interests of the Party and the Government.”
This remained “inevitable” for the Party in order 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,” maintained the Order.
In his response of April 27, Rio had denied the “false allegation of anti-party activism and harbouring of dissident movement,” terming them to be “completely untrue.”
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