NPF President's attempts to polarize electorates on religious lines unacceptable - Merentoshi
Source: Oken Jeet Sandham (NEPS) *

Kohima, May 19 2018: NDPP has come down heavily on NPF for trying to polarize the people of Nagaland on "religious lines" for their narrow political mileage in the ensuing by-election to the Lok Sabha slated for May 28 this month.

Addressing a press conference here at their NDPP Regional Office on Saturday, Marentoshi Jamir, Party (NDPP) Spokesperson, strongly criticized the manner in which NPF President Dr.Shurhozelie was appealing the electorates to vote for NPF candidate C Apok Jamir if they trust Christianity, if not vote Tokheho for Hinduism.

Terming as "unacceptable" the NPF Chief's constant attempts to polarize the people in the State on "religious lines," the NDPP Spokesperson asked how they (NPF) ran Government for fifteen years with BJP and suddenly making them as persona non grata after they failed to forge an alliance with them.

But one should recall how NPF President had declared severing ties with BJP on July 19 2017.They had gone even to the extent of organizing "Beef festival" inviting State Governor, PB Acharya to join it, Merentoshi informed.

"It was an insult," he said.

The former NPF legislator also disclosed that BJP had decided to go with NDPP on February 3 this year.

It was so contradictory that Dr.Shurhozelie would denounce BJP whereas Zeliang would appreciate them.

"Before the General Elections, they would attack BJP and after the General Elections, they would rush to Delhi to forge an alliance with them," he said.

It was no surprise that BJP refused as politics must be on principles, he added.

Terming as "absurd" Zeliang's alleged staking claim to form the Government in Nagaland as their NPF Party was the single largest party as fallout of Karnataka Governor's inviting the leader of the single largest party in the State (Karnataka) to form the Government, the NDPP Spokesperson explained that the Karnataka issue was quite different from that of Nagaland.

He said in case of Nagaland situation, the pre-poll alliance of NDPP-BJP won 30 seats whereas NPF won only 26 in the 60 Assembly Constituencies.

So inviting NDPP-BJP-led PDA to form the Government in the State was done by the rule, he said and further stated that NPF should not mislead the people.

Merentoshi also said if Zeliang wanted to stake claim to form the Government in Nagaland, they should first withdraw their four NPF legislators' support to BJP-led Government in Manipur.

* The sender of this news can be contacted at nepsonline(AT)yahoo(DOT)com .

Comment