NPF slams Supu; says agitation political

NPF in statement issued through its media & press bureau, has criticized Joint Co-ordination Committee (JCC) convenor, Supu Jamir’s remark against home minister, Y. Patton alleging that the latter’s statement on January 30 agreement was a “blatant lie”.
NPF said Supu, spearheading the on-going agitation, should spell out what exactly he meant by that, when Patton had merely quoted the “January 30th Statement”. Instead of resorting to fancy phrases and playing around with words, NPF asked Supu to confine himself to a simple yes or no and point out if the “January 30th Statement” produced verbatim by Patton was the one on which he along with the representatives of the NBCC and the state government had appended their signatures, or otherwise.
NPF has asked Supu to either dispute or admit whether Patton had incorporated a forged or imaginary Statement, or the original statement. “He should not lie to himself, or mislead the people he claims to represent. As a learned Advocate, Supu should speak the truth because documents do not lie,” NPF added.
NPF said he should not insult the intellect of the public, as it was clearly mentioned in the agreement “that postponement of the ULB polls was subject to the approval of the Cabinet and the State Election Commission” and that the JCC had “solemnly pledged to ensure people’s participation in the conduct of a peaceful ULB elections in the State… (with 33% women reservation) after the expiry of two months”.
Since JCC had sought two months time to “educated and dialogue with different tribal bodies,” NPF said the government had given time and declared all ULB elections as null and void.
However, NPF said it was bewildered that JCC and other groups, instead of organising interactive/consultative sessions with various tribal bodies to educate the people as promised, were doing just the opposite—“boycotting the consultative meetings organised by the government and asking people not to attend these meetings!”
NPF maintained that the ULB polls and 33% women reservation were never the issue as initially claimed and propounded by the agitating groups. “But the intention of the agitation was political from the very beginning,” it added.
NPF lamented that respected tribal organisations’ social movement was hijacked by elements with political agenda, and “Johnny-come-lately Committees beginning to supersede these tribal organisations”.