Asserts legitimacy of NNC/FGN under his leadership
Dimapur, November 20 (MExN): Dismissing claims of his removal as the Co-convenor of WC, NNPGs, Zhopra Vero today clarified that, to date, he had not received any circular or notification of his removal, nor the appointment of P Puthai Lam as the new incumbent, either through official channels, mass media, or social media.
He further asserted that he had been selected as the Co-convenor of the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) from its inception on December 13, 2016, until the present and is one of the signatories of the ‘Agreed Position’ signed between the Government of India (GoI) and the WC, NNPGs on November 17, 2017.
“I am not aware of any meeting of the NNPGs held on October 30, 2024,” Vero further clarified in a rejoinder to the press statement issued by the Ministry of Rali Wali Affairs, NNC/FGN on November 16.
The statement, among others, maintained that Lam had officially replaced Vero as the Co-convenor of WC, NNPGs, and a resolution adopted on October 30, 2024, indicated the non-inclusion of the “Vero-led splinter group” under the banner of the Committee.
Vero thus asserted that the statement was issued with “mischievous intent” to confuse the public.
According to the rejoinder, he joined the Naga National service by taking the oath of allegiance to the Naga Nation and the Yehzabo of Nagaland on April 10, 1989, and has been representing the Nation and the NNC/FGN on several occasions since.
From 2005 to October 21, 2024, he served as the Kedallo, NNC/FGN under Kedahge Brigadier (Retired) S Singnya, until his election as the Kedahge, NNC/FGN on October 22, 2024, Vero maintained.
From 2008 to the present, as the Representative of the NNC/FGN, he has participated in the FNR (Forum for Naga Reconciliation) and Naga Shisha Meets for the reconciliation of the Naga Political groups, with the most recent meeting on October 30, he added.
Vero also pointed out that he was selected as the Co-convenor of the WC, NNPGs from its inception and was a signatory to the ‘Agreed Position’ and participated in the political dialogues with GoI until the talks were “successfully concluded officially on October 31, 2019.”
Further, he asserted that the October 21 impeachment of Singnya as Kedahge was undertaken by the Tatar Hoho, not him, and termed it “legitimate” as it was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Yehzabo of Nagaland.
Vero argued that the claim of his impeachment as Kedallo, an elected office, by the "group led by Brig. (Retd) S Singnya" during an Emergency Cabinet Meeting on October 22, a day after the latter was "rightfully removed from office," was unconstitutional.
“There is no Constitutional provision for the removal of an elected office in an Emergency Cabinet Meeting. As such, this extra-constitutional step may have been taken by them out of frustration,” he added.
Hence, Vero claimed that his government was a “legitimate government” as he was elected to the Office of the Kedahge, NNC/FGN on October 22 in a duly summoned Tatar Hoho and following the “norms and rules” of the Yehzabo of Nagaland.
The election was necessitated after the removal of the incumbent, as the NNC/FGN was “fully aware that vested interests were at play and would try to manipulate the situation to suit their selfish agendas if the Office was kept vacant,” he added.
Vero dismissed the claim of a "self-styled" group in the November 16 statement and asserted that the NNC/FGN under his leadership is a “mandated government” according to the Yehzabo of Nagaland.
It does not believe in "collecting taxes by way of intimidation of taxpayers" but has survived to date owing to the goodwill of the people of Nagaland, he added.
Alleging that some individuals with vested interests were “instigating, manipulating, and using an old man to fulfil their selfish agendas,” Vero asserted that the NNC/FGN is “ready to face any individual/s or groups” undermining the Naga cause.
