Rejoinder to NDPP Media & Communication Committee

Kohima, 2 February 2019

1. The Naga People’s Front termed the statement of the NDPP Media & Communication Committee, which appeared in the local dailies as the ‘most unfortunate and ridiculous’ statement of all time and said that ‘it is devoid of any truth and logic’. The purported statement of the NDPP claiming the PDA coalition had never supported the Citizenship Amendment Bill at any point of time, the NPF said that the people of the state are the best judges to this fabricated statement of the NDPP.

The memories of NDPP seems to be going haywire with each passing day and they seem to be living in a state of ‘extreme delirium’. It was not only once or twice but thrice that the PDA government reiterated their stance not to oppose the Bill quoting Article 371 A as a blanket protection , however, knowing the fact that the Naga public totally reject the Bill and so also the boycotting of the Republic Day spearheaded by the NSF , the PDA government has no choice but to cringe back in fear and surrendered to the will of the people at the eleventh hour. In fact, it was only on the 28th of January 2019 that they decided to oppose the Bill which was done so not because they care for the Nagas but out of pressure to save their political chairs.

2. The Convening of the 31st January 2019 consultative meeting at Dimapur was nothing but just an eye wash for the PDA Government and to garner the attention and sympathy of the Naga people. It may be reminded that the 31st January meeting, most of the NGO’s and Tribal Hohos questioned the PDA Government for convening such meeting after its cabinet had on two occasion decided not to oppose the Bill.

The most memorable was till January 28, 2019, the NDPP led PDA Government stand was not to oppose the Bill and for which the cabinet team was congratulated by the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister at New Delhi. The stone hard leaders of the PDA Government who was so boldly advocating that Art 371 (A) and the ILP can shelter the Bill was not agreed by many civil societies and the Naga leaders who attended the consultative meeting

3. Reacting to the question put across by the NDPP on the Citizenship Amendment Bill , and the subsequent question hurled at the Leader of Opposition Mr. TR Zeliang who was also the Chief Minister during that period, on his role when this contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill came up in the Lok Sabha in the year 2016, the NPF said ,” NDPP should not forget that Neiphiu Rio was the sitting MP in the Lok Sabha when the Bill was introduced in the house .

However, because Rio’s schedules were too hectic at that point of time since he was engaged in weaving tsunamis back home to completely annihilate the NPF party, he became aware even when this Citizenship Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2016”. Therefore, shifting the blame to NPF leaders after being caught up in the very act of betrayal itself is only demeaning their party which is on the verge of collapsing to the ground. The NPF would like to remind NDPP once again that Article 371 A cannot override the Indian Constitution , and has nothing to do with the Citizenship Amendment Bill .

Therefore the childish act of NDPP hitting on NPF leaders under the cover of the Article 371 A is very unbecoming and is a shameless act of cowardice ,as it is a known fact that NPF has stood on its principles for the Nagas from the onslaught of this Citizenship Bill from day one, and has never wavered on its determined decision to protect and safeguard the future of the Nagas, unlike the NDPP led PDA government who has to backtracked at the last minute and swallowed their own vomit after witnessing the strong protests of the public.

4. NPF said that it can understand the frustration of the NDPP party on their disgraceful entry made at the North East Regional Political Parties meeting convened by likeminded political parties in the region. The NDPP party, having declared that the PDA government rejects citizenship bill made a hurried entry into the meeting at the last minute , blabbering away in disconcerted written speech and even to the extent of mispronouncing the word ‘ NDPP’ as’ NNDP’ in a panic attack , much to the amusement and bewilderment of the whole members.

And therefore, trying to shift the blame to NPF leaders and issuance of threats and intimidations will get them nowhere because the Naga intellectual groups are keeping a close watch on the whole episodes and also the present Naga Society is not so ignorant anymore. The NDPP is supposed to be a political party, how soon are they exhibiting their real color by issuing threats to NPF leaders?

5. Speaking of ‘ betrayal’, the NPF has called upon the people of the state to come out in the open against the constant shifting of ‘ blame game’ being played by the NDPP as the people are the best judge as to which party has tried all means to sell off the future of the Nagas to their adversaries , and after being caught ‘ red handed ‘ the PDA government has to swallow its pride and bowed down to public pressures, yet trying to act like the ‘ Messiah’ which a disgraceful act .

6. NPF took strong exception to the threat issued to its President Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu by NDPP over the issue of Mr.Tokheho’s vote in the Lok Sabha favoring Citizenship Amendment Bill ,and further said that it will come out with all evidences as being ask for and also asked the NDPP to be ready with their side of evidence that Mr. Tokheho has not voted in favor of the Bill on the 8th of January when it was passed in the Lok Sabha.

7. As for the claimant made by NDPP that Naga People have rejected NPF, the NPF said that Naga people have given their largest mandate to the NPF and not NDPP which had a seat sharing arrangement with the BJP to face the NPF alone in the last general election. Today the 26 NPF MLAs has become the strongest opposition in the 13th NLA.

The NPF also asserted that for a party that is thriving on ‘faulty’ lines, being cornered and surrounded on all sides with the tides closing in, has advised the NDPP to be committed and concentrate on the people’s welfare program instead of indulging in paper wars.

Issued by,
Press Bureau,
Naga people's Front
Central Headquarter,
Kohima: Nagaland.