Present political crisis a replica of 2015
Source: NPF Press Bureau *

Kohima, August 31 2017: NPF President and Former Chief Minister Dr.Sh�rhozelie Liezietsu, MLA, termed the present NPF crisis as a replica of the 2015 crisis when majority of the NPF MLAs camped at Sovima revolted against the NPF for 116 days but take over the party organization then. Addressing a mammoth gathering of NPF workers at the General Conference of the NPF Kohima Division here at the State Academy Hall, Dr.Sh�rhozelie said that dissident MLAs during 2015 had revolted against the NPF and elected their own President, set up their office bearers etc. "They had then criticized the party and tried to claim the party with all their might and power but had failed," he said and added that finally failing to claim the party they went up to the Election Commission of India to freeze the Cock symbol. He said that "the present crisis is nothing new but a repetition of 2015 episode" and urged upon the people not to be confused with whatever statement they have been making saying "it is simply to confuse the people" .

The party President also called upon the party workers that though we have minority MLAs, "the party is with us and the party does not belong to the legislators but the legislators belong to the party." Dr.Sh�rhozelie also reiterated that the NPF party is deeply rooted with the Naga people and "the founders formed this party for the cause of the peaceful solution to the Naga political issue and for the welfare of the Naga people, and so we cannot afford to hand over the party to the people who only believe their might and power can control the whole system." Referring to the dismissal of erstwhile NPF Government, the former Chief Minister said that it was "all pre-planned by the Governor PB Acharya, Neiphiu Rio, TR Zeliang and some Central BJP leaders since Nagaland, being the stronghold of the regional NPF party, the BJP had no scope in the state, and had to install TR government by unconstitutional means so as to pave way for a BJP government in the state in future " .

On the issue of the Whip, Dr.Sh�rhozelie said that it is "clearly written in the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution that the party Whip is appointed by the political party and not by the legislators or the Legislature wing of the party" .

NPF President and Former Chief Minister Dr.Sh�rhozelie Liezietsu

Accordingly, the NPF party had appointed MLA Kiyanilie Peseyie as the official whip in 2014 and so far, the party has not authorized or assigned any other MLA to be the party whip and Kiyanilie tenure as whip will expire only in March 2018, he said. "Dissident MLAs appointing TR Zeliang as the Whip can never be recognized by any court of the law and soon appropriate judgement will be delivered by the court," he said. "In between the pronouncement of the court judgment, the rebel MLAs will try to confuse the people and lure party workers," he said, "however, any party workers who left for the dissident group will automatically detach themselves from the NPF." DAN Chairman, Kuzholuzo Nienu, MLA, declared that the whole world knows the NPF party belongs to Dr.Sh�rhozelie and he is the only legitimate president of the NPF party till 2020. "Time will tell us how long the TR Government will last", the Dan Chairman said adding, "within a short period justice will prevail". He also called upon the party workers to be honest, have courage and stand firm as God is always there to protect those who stand by the truth. The MLA also asked if TR/Rio believe money power can do anything, why they did not merge with other political parties or nurture the infant DPP, and stated that without the NPF the duo has no future so with all force they are trying to grab the NPF party, he added. Nienu also suggested that instead of creating crisis in the NPF party, good sense should prevail in TR/Rio and leave the NPF alone and run the government for the welfare of the people. He also urged upon the party rank and file to stand up for what is right even if it means standing alone. Ex-Speaker and former Minister Thenucho Tunyi, who also spoke on the occasion, lauded the Indian judiciary system and hoped that it would do justice to the prevailing situation since truth will always conquers. Also speaking on the occasion, the spokesperson of the NPF, Achumbemo Kikon asserted that "the dissident group can fool somebody some time but cannot fool all the people all the time." On the Whip issue, Achumbemo said that TR Zeliang himself "admitted in the affidavit submitted to the Court the other day that a whip is appointed by the political party.

The dissident group has no other weapon to confuse the people but only to delay the hearing of the court and run the government for the time being" .

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