KOHIMA: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has denied Center’s recent charge that the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) Government allowed a meeting of its legislators and top NSCN (I-M) leaders to discuss candidates for Manipur Assembly elections.
Addressing at the NPF ticket distribution function at Phymai Taphaou village under Senapati district of Manipur yesterday, Mr Rio alleged that the Centre and its agencies were trying to “blackmail” the NPF by alleging that it had nexus with certain underground factions. “I have outrightly denied the allegation,” Rio revealed.
The Union Ministry Home Affairs sources recently claimed that NPF legislators met the NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th Muivah and senior leader V S Atem at a resort in Dimapur.
MHA stated that they would write to the Nagaland government to ask how Muivah could leave Camp Hebron, Council Headquarters of NSCN-IM, without informing the Centre.
Meanwhile, the Naga Hoho had clarified that a consultative meeting, convened by it at Dimapur January 4 last, deliberated over the issues concerning Naga people, alternative arrangement for Nagas in Manipur and reconciliation and peace process.
Naga Hoho had stated that it was “absolutely unjustified” to claim that the meeting was held to chalk out the strategy for the elections in Manipur, saying the agenda was outside the perimeter of Naga Hoho.
The Hoho said few civil society members, NPF leaders and ‘kilonsers’ of NSCN (I-M) were invited at the meeting. “Neither NPF MLAs nor V S Atem was present during the meeting as reported,” Hoho had clarified. (UNI)