Also mulls legal action against those circulating rumours
Nagaland deputy chief minister, Y. Patton has dismissed speculations that he, along with former chief minister and leader of NPF legislature, TR Zeliang were planning to forge an alliance to form a new government in the state.
Addressing media persons at his private residence at Ikishe village here Tuesday, Patton condemned the “unauthenticated, unrealistic and defamatory statement” and warned that if deemed fit, he would seek legal recourse against those involved. Patton, who is also in-charge home , was reacting to a report by a news portal that he along with T.R. Zeliang, the leader of opposition NPF, had met with NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah on September 24 for a change of government.
Patton termed the report as “wild and totally false” and believed it was planted by some political adversaries only to create confusion in the minds of people and distrust with the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA).
Patton clarified that on the day the meeting was supposed to have been held, he was in his office at Nagaland Civil Secretariat.
Further, Patton pointed out that any major “political move or decision” by the BJP in the state would be taken with the consent of the party high command as the state unit cannot take unilateral decisions.
He also reaffirmed that the BJP-NDPP alliance was strong under the dynamic leadership of chief minister, Neiphiu Rio and that BJP remained committed to its pre-poll alliance.
On the purported meeting with NSCN (I-M) leadership for “a change of guard”, Patton said it was unthinkable to consult any Naga Political Group leaders for such decision when the latter are engaged in finding permanent peace and solution for the Nagas.
Further, Patton said after Joint Legislature Forum (JLF) had resolved to urge negotiating parties for an early solution and also as the deputy chief minister home, it was his prerogative to meet NPGs leaders and urge them to resolve the Naga issue at the earliest.
The dy. Chief minister (home) also urged upon the media fraternity to be careful in reporting such sensitive issues when government of India and negotiating parties were at a crucial juncture to resolve the “Indo-Naga issue”.
He said such irresponsible and doctored news would only create confusion amongst the Naga public and also disturb peace in the State.
State BJP chip whip and advisor, Prisons, Printing & Stationery, H. Haying, who was also present at the press conference, dismissed the rumours saying that the PDA government was going strong and will compete its tenure. He said at this critical juncture, such rumours will only bring confusion among the people.
BJP Nagaland unit slams report
Meanwhile Nagaland BJP has vehemently denied and expressed displeasure over the news report that appeared in some electronic media including a section of the local media which speculated that some senior BJP leaders led by deputy chief minister Y. Patton were planning to “forge an alliance” with the opposition NPF to form a new collation government in Nagaland.
In a statement, BJP state chief spokesperson Kuputo Shohe denounced the news saying it comes at a time when Naga society is undergoing through a critical period in the political front and such “irresponsible reports” could even result in a law and order situation.
He also said the news continued to do the rounds in social media even after state BJP president Temjen Imna Along had denied them as rumours.
Shohe reminded that the BJP functioned well within the directives of its central leaders on any political matters such as on alliance or re-alliance and not at the state level but at the level of the central high command.
He also reiterated that the present PDA coalition has been maintaining transparency and accountability in governance and requested all news agencies to uphold the party’s credibility by first ascertaining and authenticating such reports.
BJP also cautioned, that if the trend of “unauthenticated news reported continues” then the BJP would be compelled to take any course of action against any agency for such “irresponsible reports in future.”
The party also reaffirmed the statement of national general secretary (in-charge NE) Ram Madhav on September 18 in Wokha, that the pre-poll alliance with NDPP was a “gentlemanly agreement” and hence the PDA coalition will continue to be so.
BJP demanded that “East Mojo and Eastwind” portals openly clarify as to the source of their reports regarding the supposed removal of Ram Madhav as national general secretary and co-relating it with change in leadership of BLP and deputy chief minister Y. Patton as the report was “very serious in nature” and threatened to affect the state unit. BJP also demanded clarification from ‘East Mojo’ on the supposed meeting that took place between Y. Patton and T.R. Zeliang with Th. Muivah on September 24 and speculation about the formation of a new government in Nagaland.
BJP stated that while it had no knowledge about the meeting, yet if the report was true, then as senior leaders in the government as well as the state, the deputy CM or any other party leader have every reason to do so and it needed no explanation or approval.