DAN chairman and advisor Finance, T.R. Zeliang on Tuesday claimed that he was dislodged as the chief minister not for any reason, but just because he was from a “minority tribe in Nagaland”.
In a statement issued by Media & Press Bureau of NPF Central Office, Zeliang maintained that though he had majority support of MLAs, yet was dislodged as he was from a minority tribe , while campaigning at Tamenglong Manipur.
He however had no regrets for vacating the CM’s chair as it was handed over to a person who loved the party and the people. He exuded confidence that chief minister, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu would take NPF and the DAN government to greater heights.
He said though majority MLAs supported him, yet some elements from outside the assembly, resorted to violent means to demand his resignation.
He also sought to project himself as a peace loving politician by telling NPF party members, supporters and Zeliangrong community at the rally, that he could have used Central forces like chief minister O. Ibobi to contain the protestors. However, Zeliang said he stepped down for the sake of peace. With regard to issues faced by the hill tribes of Manipur, Zeliang lamented about absence of a common platform to address the issues of the hill areas. He felt the NPF could be the platform by citing three candidates from the Kuki community who were issued NPF tickets.
“The NPF does not stand for the Naga tribals alone, but for all the tribes and communities of the hill areas of Manipur,’ he said.
Hitting at national parties for the high command culture, he said “people have realised about the difficulties of serving the constituents by remaining in national parties because they have to go by the decisions of their party high command.”
He said the NPF does not have any high command but that people were the party’s high command and for which the party listened to the wishes and aspirations of the common people.
Zeliang also pointed out that unlike NPF, “national parties do not go by the aspirations of the common people and decisions are taken from Delhi, far from these remote corners of the country.”
Zeliang acknowledged the sacrifice made by four NPF legislators, who resigned from Manipur Assembly in protest against the three anti-tribal bills. He said this clearly showed that NPF “stands with the people and never betrays the people by implementing the manifesto on the ground,” he added.
He pointed out that the recent creation of districts like Nonei and Jeribam had further divided the villages of Tousem and Tamei sub divisions and that the Zeliangrong people were now divided by being placed in three different administrative states of Manipur, Assam and Nagaland. “This has made our people minorities in our respective states,” he said.
Observing that Manipur was likely to have a hung house, Zeliang claimed that 15 NPF legislators, if elected, would be the deciding factor in the formation of the next government.
Yitachu defends Zeliang
Nagaland education minister and in-charge of Manipur NPF, Yitachu, has said that the former chief minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang, “as a true Naga leader”, chose to step down to prevent the Naga society from plunging into further turmoil.
Addressing a gathering of NPF functionaries and supporters at Tamenglong, Manipur on Tuesday, Yitachu said that if TR Zelaing desired he could have held on to his seat by making use of Central forces offered by the Centre.
He said Zeliang was cornered from the Supreme Court angle, which was on the verge of delivering a verdict that could have gone against the cherished Article 371 A, and from “some civil organisations”, which expressed apprehensions that holding of ULB polls would go against customary practices of the Naga people. However, Yitachu said that as a leader Zeliang had boldly decided to pre-empt the Supreme Court ruling and went ahead with the elections.
Yitachu said as a result of “this supreme sacrifice he made” Zeliang’s leadership has grown manifold in the eyes of the legislators as well as the people of Nagaland.
In a press release, NPF central office, media & press bureau said Yitachu expressed confidence that Zelaing would soon come back “to lead us one day.”
BJP functionaries join NPF
NPF media & press bureau has stated that BJP leaders– Khangthonang Panmei, Manipur state BJP executive member and Pouhotlung, executive member BJP and ADC member, Tamenglong have resigned from the BJP party and joined the NPF to strengthen the hands of NPF Candidate for Tamenglong A/C Janghemlung Panmei.