Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) through its media cell has hit out at statements made by “recently deposed chief minister T.R. Zeliang and Education minister Yitachu” over the option of using central forces and T.R. Zeliang alleging he was a victim because he belonged to a minority tribe (Zeliang) and claiming the high command of NPF is the people.
NPCC said the option to use central forces exposed “their hollow mindset” that had no respect for the voices and sentiments of the people. NPCC pointed out that the entire ULB election was a fiasco resulting in loss of lives and damage to property that could have been averted had the NPF leaders “tactfully handled the simmering situation.”
On T.R. Zeliang claiming he was a victim only because he belonged to a minority tribe, NPCC said it by claiming so, he (Zeliang) has only brought disrepute on himself. In the first instance, how did T.R. Zeliang become chief minister? asked NPCC. Instead T.R. Zeliang ought to be grateful to legislators for giving him the opportunity to head the government and therefore, his speech at Tamenglong revealed his pettiness and negative attitude unbecoming of the position he hold, said NPCC.
NPCC said playing the minority card was a desperate attempt to polarize people on communal lines and cautioned T.R. Zeliang that he should know that playing with fire could also burn his hands instead of others.
NPCC also said T.R. Zeliang repeated talks that he sacrificed the chair of the CM was hollow since he was forced out of the chair after all legislators abandoned him. Instead of leaving gracefully, NPCC said T.R.Zeliang has only shown his “hunger for power and position” by accepting the unconstitutional post of Advisor with cabinet status to continue in power. However by doing so, T.R.Zeliang had demeaned the office of the chief minister he occupied for 32 months said NPCC.