DIMAPUR, APRIL 20 (MExN): In a rejoinder issued today, the NPF sacked the allegation made by the Opposition Congress by saying that contrary to the charges of disproportionate assets hurled at Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, “the Congress President should know that the chequered life and political career of Mr Neiphiu is not that brand of ‘rags to riches.’”
Press Secretary to the NPF R Paphino said it was the Chief Minister’s father Guolholie Rio, a Class-I Contractor who as a man of considerable resources had built a strong base for his children and posterity. “Mr Neiphiu was already an established Class-I Contractor, having sound foundation by the time he joined the arena of Politics as an MLA unlike many Naga leaders who entered the August House as MLAs in feeble conditions,” Paphino said.
The same charges were also figured in a session of the Eight Nagaland Legislative Assembly (1993-1998) against Rio when he was Minister in-charge of Works and Housing wherein he had rebutted the baseless charges in emphatic terms, he said.
“The state of desperation might have prompted them (NPCC) to personalize the issue of Mr Neiphiu- a neighbour’s envy which is too unbecoming and vindictive,” it was said. The Nagaland Congress has been told to come out with specific corruption or embezzlement charges with substantive proof and evidence if it “is conscious of its responsibility in a correct perspective.”
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