Cong questions BJP's bonhomie with NPF
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 18 2017: Will the Naga People's Front (NPF) append signature to the memorandum of the all political party addressed to the Prime Minister for the protection of Manipur's integrity or will the NPF be included in the delegation who would submit the memorandum to the PM, the State Congress has categorically asked the BJP led State Govt today.

Addressing a sit-in-pro-test organised by Sugnu Block Congress Committee today at Pangaltabi which demanded disclosure of the contents of Framework Agreement signed between Gol and NSCN-IM, former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said NPF is a party recognised by the Election Commission of India.

The Congress has no grudge against the party individually.

Ibobi said that NPF is a party which supports Naga integration, works hand in glove with an armed rebel outfit, NSCN-IM, and is also in power in Nagaland.

The NPF Govt in Nagaland has taken umpteen resolutions in the Nagaland Assembly for early settlement of Naga issue and piled constant pressure on the Centre to solve the issue and present it as Christmas or New Year gift.

The NPF MLAs including the Chief Minister of Nagaland are camping at Delhi to exert pressure on the Centre for early solution, he said.

Chief Minister N Biren had stated before the Assembly election that the BJP will stay aloof from the NPF and will not have any post poll alliance even if the BJP comes to power in the State.

The statement of N Biren has been kept on record, O Ibobi said.

However, Chief Minister N Biren now ditched his earlier statement and go along with the NPF to form the Govt as if to remain in power is his ultimate motive, Ibobi added.

The Congress has no bitterness that the Govt is run by the BJP.

Like the Congress whose stand is very clear on Manipur's integrity, other parties also need to make their stand clear at a critical situation like this, he said.

Ibobi further said that the lone MLA of TMC has not been included in the drafting committee of the memorandum to be submitted to the PM.

NPP is represented by Dy CM Y Joykumar.

No representative from the NPF has been included in the committee, he pointed out.

Ibobi also questioned the ties between the BJP and the NPF.

He categorically asked whether the NPF would append signature to the memorandum for the protection of Manipur's integrity and the NPF representative would be included in the all political party delegation who would, submit the memorandum to the PM.

The former CM further sought clarification in this regard from the NPF, BJP and most appropriately from the CM .

It would be very much appreciated if the CM responds by saying that the NPF would give signature in the memorandum.

In that case, the Congress would continue sending its representative to the drafting committee.

If not, the Con- gress would stop deputing its representative in the drafting committee for a while, O Ibobi said.

Former Dy CM Gaikhangam said that the Congress is not interfering on things that do not concern them but.

demanding the Govt to place its activities/works in public domain.

People deserve to know the activities of the Govt and likewise, contents of the framework agreed between the Govt of India and NSCN-IM should be made public.

The contents of the FA should be made known not only to the Congress, but to all citizens of the country.

Congress is neither politicising the issue nor trying to get electoral mileage out of it.

It would not be good to conceal the contents of FA for the country and the BJP, he said.

Gaikhangam also asked why the State Govt is still adamant to summon a special session of the Assembly when the entire populace of the State is gripped by apprehension that Manipur's integrity is at risk.

If the Govt can call a special session on GST issue, why not summon a special session in regard to FA, he asked.

The true colour of NPF is known to all.

As such, the Congress has been demanding the concerned to kill or get rid of the venomous snake that sneaks inside the mosquito; net.

After that, ones who truly love Manipur could collec tively work for the betterment of the State, he said.

He called upon all concerned to stop maintaining double standard or resorting to double-speak.

Gaikhangam also accused the CM of uttering words that could divide the hill and the valley.

He said that CM N Biren at one point of time seemed to love the land and people, but now, may be due to his party affiliation, he has distanced himself from speaking the truth.

CM N Biren is now contradicting his earlier statement, he said.

He further demanded CM N Biren to take action against those involved in writing 'Welcome to South Nagalim' during his recent visit to Chandel instead of downplaying and dismissing it as the work of anti-social elements.

He also said that no words should be uttered to please the hills and hurt the sentiments of the valley and vice-versa.

He also advised the leaders to speak minimal as' speaking too much can harm them.

Gaikhangam said that the CM's words that 'there is disparity in hill-valley development' and 'there was enmity between the hill and valley', could have wide ramification and repercussion.

The CM should know this.

These two sentences are the slogan of the NSCN-IM.

The CM should not act like he is approving the slogan of the underground group. Now the Naga militants would re-assert that 'there is no equal development in the hills and the valley,' and 'there is no love between the hill and valley people'.

They would attribute all these points to the CM of Manipur.

MLA K Ranjit also spoke on the occasion.

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