NPF Pres & Information Cell (P&IC) criticized “Dr Shürhozelie and his minority group of calling the MLAs and party functionaries supporting the leadership of NPF president Neiphiu Rio as ‘political tourists’ and ‘professional defectors’ without looking at himself in the mirror first.”
To set the record straight, P&IC stated that Dr. Shürhozelie was not even a founding member of the erstwhile Nagaland People’s Council and had no significant role in the formation of the Naga People’s Front, but had been habitually claiming ownership and take credit of the Cock party.
However, it said the greatest achievement of Dr. Shürhozelie was getting the NPC party de-recognized in 1998 during his tenure as president for boycotting the general elections that year.
P&IC recalled that Dr. Shürhozelie had, much against the wishes of his colleagues, abandoned the party to contest the 1999 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate only to face a miserable defeat. Therefore, P&IC said he had no moral authority to slander others.
It reminded that the MLAs and party functionaries had not defected but had consciously chosen the side which was legal in its claim according to the laws of the country.
P&IC said it was unbecoming and unfortunate, that the acts of standing on the truth and upholding the provisions of law should be negated as political defection and political tourism.
Despite the fact that the minority NPF group could not muster courage to face the floor test on July 1, 2017, P&IC said Dr. Shürhozelie created history in Nagaland by becoming the first unelected chief minister to run away from his bounden duty of proving his majority in the Assembly. This spoke volumes of their cowardice and utter lack of respect for democracy and its norms, P&IC stated.
P&IC said “Their own undemocratic actions got themselves dismissed and therefore, they should desist from pinning the blame on others.”
It further pointed out that since the district courts, High Court and Supreme Court dismissed/rejected all their petitions/appeals, they had nowhere left to go and nothing left to do except find fault with everyone including the courts.
To this, P&IC wondered whether they meant to state that the Constitution of India and the Courts of law were all wrong and that only they were right.
Rubbishing the allegation that the majority group was “perhaps” using money to lure members of the minority NPF group, P&IC said they trust and respect the wisdom of their supporters who understand the democratic aspects and dynamics of party politics. On the contrary, P&IC said it was no secret as to who allegedly used huge amounts of money openly in the recently concluded bye-elections to get elected at any cost.
P&IC further reminded that the status of the NPF party was clear as Neiphiu Rio enjoyed majority support of the MLAs and CEC members mentioned in the original list (2015-January 31st 2020 tenure) which was submitted to the ECI after the November 26, 2014 NPF General Convention.
Therefore, P&IC said any expulsion/suspension/nomination/appointment of new CEC member(s) or central office bearer(s) thereafter would have no effect on the existing list.
Even if the minority group may try to manipulate the list by making new additions, P&IC said it would not be acceptable to ECI.
On the other hand, it said whatever arguments may be put forth by the disputing parties, the final decision would be taken by the ECI which is the appropriate authority.
P&IC has therefore appealed to all sections of the party and the people to understand the situation and think rationally as to who was indulging in undemocratic activities and who was standing by the laws of the Constitution of India and the NPF constitution.
With the matter placed before the Election Commission of India, P&IC said the NPF under its president, Neiphiu Rio does not desire or aspire to fight a senseless media war. It also made known that their “dignified silence should not be misconstrued as weakness or inability to counter the blatant lies propagated by the minority NPF group”, saying they were ever-ready to retort with legal facts and genuine figures as and when deemed necessary.