Leader of opposition TR Zeliang has denied meeting any central leaders of Congress in New Delhi as alleged by NDPP.
In a communiqué, Zeliang also challenged the ruling party to be specific with its allegation and clarify when, where and which Congress leader he had met in Delhi, if the latter was so certain of him meeting BJP or Congress leaders.
Reacting to the ruling party’s press statement on Sunday, the communiqué issued by information & publicity wing of leader of opposition’s office asserted that Zeliang was a bona fide citizen of India and free to visit New Delhi or any other part of the country, if he so desired. And being at a certain place at a particular time in no way rationalised the “dull-witted thesis” of NDPP, it added.
The communiqué clarified that a senior lawyer and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi was engaged by petitioner Zeneisiile Ate Loucii in the NDPP de-registration case.
It, however, added that linking leader of opposition or NPF MLAs to Congress as a result of this was not an intelligent presumption.
According to the communiqué, NDPP was in the habit of accusing leader of opposition without any basis, adding that many a times it had failed to substantiate its allegation. It termed the ruling party’s alleged regular questioning of Zeliang’s every visit to Delhi and cooking up lies after lies as cheap and obnoxious.
Leader of opposition’s office clarified that NPF was neither part of UPA nor NDA, adding that even if Zeliang did meet any leader of a national or regional party in Delhi or in any other part of the country, there was nothing wrong in it.
Zeliang was free to meet leader of any political party on any issue and there was no legal or civil sanction restricting him to do so. However, if NDPP still preferred to accuse him of meeting central leaders regarding its survival as a political party, it should come out with valid facts instead of beating around the bush, the communiqué demanded.