KOHIMA, JUNE 1 (MExN): NPF legislators today reaffirmed its support to the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu, stating that there is no question of shifting their support to any other leader.
In a joint memorandum addressed to the State Governor K Sankaranarayanan, the 10 MLAs of the NPF, led by Minister for Agriculture Kuzholuzo – who in 2004 withdrew support after they were dropped from the ministry due to downsizing exercise – said that they have retracted their signature in August 2004, but some of the disgruntled members are still using this 2004 undated letter which was submitted to the then Governor Shyamal Datta, to destabilize the leadership of Neiphiu Rio and DAN government in the past few days.
“This, document, very unfortunately, is being used now to destabilize the leadership of Neiphiu Rio and DAN government by few vested individual members in the past few days”, stated the letter.
“We are, therefore presenting ourselves in person before Your Excellency for your personal verification to verify in person of the members whose signatures are appended below, so as to put the matter at rest once and for all and also to avoid any possibility of fraud or misleading your good office by way of misusing that document either by any individual, group or political party”, the letter further added.
The 10 legislators included Kuzholuzo, Minister Agriculture, Nyeiwang Konyak, Parliamentary Secretary, K Neiba Konyak, MLA, Nkhao Lotha, Parliamentary Secretary, Hewoto Parliamentary Secretary, Yitachu Parliamentary Secretary, Kipili Sangtam, Parliamentary Secretary, Hukavi, Chairman, NKVIB, R Khing, Parliamentary Secretary and Kaito Aye, Parliamentary Secretary.
Meanwhile, addressing the press at Hotel Japfu after presenting themselves to the Governor, Kuzholuzo said that the party will decide on the fate of the other 6 NPF legislators who went against Rio on Wednesday. They termed the attempt of the NPF legislators as ‘high of frustration and character assassination’.
However, Azo said that inspite of all attempts made by the disgruntled legislators, the government is intact and has been growing from strength to strength.
Besides, the 4 dissident NPF legislators K Therie, Vatsu Meru, Z. Obed and Khutovi, other two who joined in the fray were Parliamentary Secretary K Hollohon and MLA Yeangphong.
Meanwhile, Nagaland People Front party, reacting sharply to the news items that appeared in various local dailies that the ruling DAN government is in crisis following the non-confident motion moved by some of its dissident legislators and demand for president rule, today said that despite the ‘non-issue blown beyond its proportion’, the NPF led DAN government is cohesive, sound and comfortable.
The rejoinder issue by its Press Secretary, R Paphino said that the party is dismayed at the manner in which some local dailies sensitized the entire issue without having any genuine basis and substance, however, said that the government is in no way disturbed by the ‘cheap news’.
It clarified that on May 30 few legislators consisting of 4 NPF suspended members, one Congress member, one Independent, one JDU and 2 NPF members called on the Governor K Sankaranrayanan and submitted a “farcical and bogus paper” claiming to have been signed by 22 DAN MLAs withdrawing their support to the Rio’s government.
The fact was that in 2004 when the down sizing of the Ministry was affected, 22 DAN MLAs signed a paper for change of leadership without mentioning the month and year and submitted to the then Governor, Shyamal Datta. However, this move failed to yield to any positive result and in due course of time, the disgruntled members realized their mistake and reconciled to remain with the NPF party. It further stated that realizing that rectification was required to be done on the undated signed paper, 8 NPF MLAs out of 15 NPF members had withdrawn their signatures by submitting withdrawal letters to the then Governor of Nagaland during 2005-06.
It further clarified that the state Chief Minister and Speaker went to Delhi and Kerala respectively for official programmes and their return to Nagaland were normal and pre-scheduled as such the media claim that chief Minister and speaker rushing back to the Nagaland in view of the ministry crisis is absolutely distorted, rubbish and exaggerated.
“The issue has been intentionally whipped up out of a non-issue just to confuse the public else, there is no real crisis in Nagaland. As such, the question of imposing president rule in Nagaland does not arise”, the rejoinder added, while terming the news report as ‘misleading’.
.jpg)
