Opposition NPF through its press bureau has termed the NDPP’s statement published on February 1 as the “most unfortunate and ridiculous” statement of all time, saying “it is devoid of any truth and logic”.
Responding to NDPP’s claim that the PDA coalition had never supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill at any point of time, the NPF said people of the state were the best judges to this fabricated statement of the NDPP.
It said the memories of NDPP seemed to be going haywire with each passing day and the party seemed to be living in a state of “extreme delirium”.
NPF pointed out that 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 rejected the Bill and so also the boycotting of the Republic Day spearheaded by the NSF, NPF said the PDA government had no choice but to cringe back in fear and surrender to the will of the people at the eleventh hour.
Rather, NPF said the PDA government decided to oppose the bill only on January 28, not because they care for the Nagas but out of pressure to save their political chairs.
It further said that the January 31 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.
At the meeting, NPF claimed that most of the NGOs and tribal hohos questioned the PDA government for convening such meeting after its cabinet had on two occasions decided not to oppose the Bill.
“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,” it added.
Till January 28, 2019, NPF said NDPP-led PDA government’s 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.
With regard to the question on CAB, and the subsequent question hurled at the Leader of Opposition TR Zeliang– who was also the chief minister during that period– on his role when this contentious CAB came up in the Lok Sabha in 2016, 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 unaware even when CAB was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2016”.
Therefore, NPF said shifting the blame to NPF leaders after being caught up in the very act of betrayal itself was only demeaning their party (NDPP) which was on the verge of collapsing to the ground.
NPF also reminded NDPP again that Article 371 (A) cannot override the Indian Constitution, and has nothing to do with the CAB.
Therefore, NPF said the childish act of NDPP hitting on NPF leaders under the cover of Article 371 (A) was very unbecoming and a shameless act of cowardice.
Unlike NDPP-led PDA government who had backtracked at the last minute under pressure, NPF said the party had stood on its principles for Nagas from the onslaught of CAB from day one, and had never wavered on its determined decision to protect and safeguard the future of Nagas.
NPF said that the NDPP party after having declared that the PDA government rejected the CAB, made a hurried entry into the the North East Regional Political Parties 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 those present.
The opposition party further said it
NPF said that it can understand the frustration of NDPP on their disgraceful entry made at the meeting convened by likeminded political parties in the region.
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, NPF added.
Stating that NDPP was supposed to be a political party, NPF wondered how soon the party had exhibited their real color by issuing threats to NPF leaders?
On the issue of ‘betrayal’, NPF called upon the people of the state to come out in the open against the constant shifting of ‘blame game’ being played by NDPP.
To this, NPF said the people were the best judge as to which party had tried all means to sell off the future of the Nagas to their adversaries. After being caught “red handed”, NPF said the PDA government had to swallow its pride and bowed down to public pressures, despite trying to act like the ‘Messiah’, which was a disgraceful act.
NPF also took strong exception to the “threat” issued to its president, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu by NDPP over the issue of Tokheho’s vote in the Lok Sabha favoring CAB.
Claiming that it was ready to come out with all evidences as was demanded by NDPP, NPF therefore asked the latter to be ready with their evidence that Tokheho had not voted in favor of CAB on January 8 when it was passed in the Lok Sabha.
On the claims made by NDPP that Nagas had rejected NPF, the opposition rather countered saying the Nagas had given the 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 NPF said the party with 26 MLAs was the strongest opposition in the 13th NLA.
Accusing NDPP of thriving on “faulty lines” and being cornered on all sides with the tides closing in, NPF advised NDPP to be committed and to concentrate on the people’s welfare program instead of indulging in paper wars.