Opposition Congress to boycott “State Golden Jubilee Celebration”

By Oken Jeet Sandham

KOHIMA, Nov 13 (NEPS): In an unprecedented move that will have far reaching consequences in the present Neihpiu Rio Government in Nagaland, the main Opposition Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) warned that it would launch a mass agitation even to the extent of “boycotting the 50^th Anniversary celebrations of (Nagaland) Statehood” if chargesheeted State Cabinet Minister Imkong L Imchen was not removed from the Council of Ministers within fortnight.In a representation to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio here on Wednesday, the main opposition NPCC strongly demanded the removal of Imkong L Imchen, Medical Minister, from the Council of Ministers since he had already been “chargesheeted” by the Wokha Police for his “criminal conduct during the recently concluded state assembly elections.”

“Caught red handed with crores of unaccounted money, illegal weapons and liquor in his possession at Wokha, enough prima facie evidences are available against the Minister and for which his continuance in the Cabinet has become untenable until he is proved innocent in the court of law,” said the representation.

Stating that Imchen lost all moral authority to cling on to the ministerial chair, the NPCC demanded for his immediate removal from the Cabinet so that the entire trial hearing process did not get influenced by his position as minister.

It further warned that it would launch a mass agitation even to the extent of boycotting the “50^th Anniversary celebrations of (Nagaland) statehood” if the Chief Minister failed to remove him from his Council of Minister within fortnight. “(Because) it will not tolerate a criminally tainted person masquerading as leader to make a mockery of law and hold the state to ransom,” it asserted.Meanwhile, the NPCC also sought the intervention of the State Governor Dr Ashwini Kumar to prevail upon the Chief Minister for removal Imchen as Minister without further delay to let the justice prevail.

Later talking to press her at Congress Bhavan on Wednesday, NPCC President SI Jamir disclosed that they sought appointment for Chief Minister but the latter could not give even for five minutes. So they had submitted the “Representation” through one of his officials at his office.