Reports of severing ties with BJP mischievous: NPF

Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 17

The Naga People’s Front (NPF) today termed reports of the party severing ties with its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as “mischievous.” A press note from the NPF Central HQ informed that during the party’s Central Office Bearers (COB) meeting on January 15, the party’s decision taken on July 18, 2017 on severing ties with BJP was discussed.  

“There were queries from among the members in the meeting whether the Party could review its decision. The matter was discussed and concluded that since the subject matter was beyond the brief/ power of the COB to discuss, the same should go to CEC again and, for that reason, the President was empowered to convene CEC meeting,” the NPF informed.  

“We are aware that many political leaders are trying to woo the BJP to become its allies. And the NPF has no objections for such attempts but the party want to advise them that they should not play calculated mischief,” it appealed.  

It further clarified that the COB meeting never discussed about ticket issue for the ensuing elections. The NPF said that it is for solution of the Naga political problem from the beginning till date. The only thing discussed in the meeting, it claimed, was that “we do not want to repeat the 1998 experience.”  

Resolutions adopted during the meeting included: empowering the NPF President, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu to convene a meeting of the Central Executive Council; and endorsing the decision of the party president to revoke all suspension/expulsion orders of the NPF workers/office bearers of the divisional/area units.  

Several reports however claim that the relationship between the NPF and the BJP has been strained of late.  

Source from BJP stated that the party has “always supported and appreciated the alliance with NPF.” They (BJP) however said they were “not surprised given the rigid stance of Dr Shürhozelie against the BJP as evidenced by his utterances in the past.”  

“So I am not surprised by his continuation of the resolution the NPF passed earlier last year after he was sacked as the Chief Minister,” said the source.  

Among others, the source attributed holding of ‘Beef Feast’ by NPF Youth Wing on July 21, 2017; demand for removal of Governor and TR Govt last year as backgrounds to the friction in the alliance.  

Any rapprochement, it was added, should be from the NPF side.