Kohima, May 18 (MExN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) today termed it “erroneous and misleading” the claim of the Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Neiphiu Rio that he is a founding member of NPF.
Rio had claimed in his reply to the show cause notices served to him earlier this year that he is a “founding member” of NPF, the oldest regional political party, a press release from NPF pointed out.
NPF said that in Nagaland, regional political party identity started with the Democratic Party of Nagaland in late 1963 when the regional party was formed to contest the 1964 State general elections. Rio, born on November 11, 1950, was not even of legal voting age that time, it said.
Over the decades, the nomenclature of the regional political party changed to United Democratic Front, Naga National Democratic Party, Nagaland People’s Council, Nagaland People’s Front. In 2009, to enable the party to spread its jurisdiction and participation in other neighbouring States, the name of the party was further changed to Naga People’s Front (NPF), the release stated. All this while, the symbol of the party remained the same till date - cock/ rooster, it added.
NPF Youth Wing endorses suspension order
Kohima, May 18 (MExN): The NPF Central Youth Wing has endorsed the action taken by the NPF President, Dr. Shürhozielie Liezietsu in suspending Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio from active and primary membership of the party. In a press release issued by its Media Cell, the Youth Wing stated that the party President has taken “timely and right decision at a time when the NPF party is sailing through a rough weather because of the unwarranted mess created by some power-mongering party members.”
The release maintained that though Neiphiu Rio played a pivotal role to uplift the party at the earlier stage, “he unfortunately became a turn-coat and started initiating all sorts of ruckus within the party fold after he became an MP in order to foster his self interest, and thereby, has tremendously endangered the party stability and credibility.” Hence, it stated, “his suspension from the NPF party has become indispensable to salvage the party from his ulterior design.”
Meanwhile, the Youth Wing has appealed to all party workers not to misconstrue the drastic action of the party President against its senior member, stating it was executed in the larger interest of the NPF party. It also lauded the decision of the DAC Members in “steadfastly upholding the true principle of the party constitution and for recommending the suspension of Rio from the party, without any biasness.”
It further reiterated that it will not tolerate any anti-party activities even in the future by any of the party men or women, but stand would stand firm to protect the party interest at any cost.
