Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 4
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his predecessor SC Jamir, now Goa Governor, have both denied allegations leveled against them by Naga underground groups that they had paid huge sums of money at one time or the other to the NSCN factions. In separate press denials, both Rio and Jamir pointed out that government records were available for verification. It may be mentioned that the NSCN (K) has been charging Rio of funding its rivals, the NSCN (IM), while the latter has in turn alleged about the role played by Jamir in assisting the NSCN (K) during his long stint as Chief Minister.
“The Chief Minister and the State government make it clear that it has not sided or assisted any particular group, nor will it do so in future”, stated a press communiqué issued by the Chief Minister’s Press Secretary, Abu Metha.
Pointing out that Rio was dismayed over the ‘wild and baseless allegations’ about payments to and aiding certain underground groups, the statement termed as completely false and untrue the allegations leveled against him and his government. “It goes without saying that every rupee of the government is to be accounted for and recorded. Government records are available for verification. Therefore, the question of paying crores of rupees to any individual or groups just does not arise”, stated the clarification from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat while also reiterating the stand of the State government of playing the role of facilitator with its declared policy of ‘equi-closeness’.
In a separate statement from Goa, Jamir stated that at no point of time during his tenure as Chief Minister had the Government of Nagaland received any money from the Government of India to “sponsor terrorism on the Nagas” as alleged. “This can be verified from the records available with the Government of Nagaland, and also with the Government of India if need be. I am amazed at how the any body or organization could make such a preposterous statement. I also fail to understand how the sum of Rs 103 crore came about!” Jamir stated.
Reminding everyone that the year 1995-1996 was declared by his Government as the Year of Peace Offensive, Jamir clarified that in no way had this Peace Offensive anything to do with violent offensive against any body or organization as implied by the allegation of the NSCN (IM). “Far from it, my Government worked ceaselessly for reconciliation of every section of the Naga society under the theme of that year”, Jamir pointed out adding that it was through such initiatives taken by the then Congress Government that the ceasefire agreements with the NSCN (IM) and the NSCN (K) could be signed with the Government of India in 1997 and 2001 respectively. “These are historical facts which I am confident no person or organization will contradict”, Jamir stated.
