Tension mounts as Rio faction calls CEC meeting

DIMAPUR |Aug 21 (NNN)

Tension ran high as one of the two rival factions of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) is all set to hold central executive council (CEC) meeting in Kohima tomorrow.

Former Chief Minister of Nagaland Dr Shurhozelie Lizietsu who is leading the other faction of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) said the meeting of CEC of NPF led by Neiphiu Rio scheduled for tomorrow in Kohima as illegal and unauthorised.

“Take notice that this meeting is illegal, unauthorised by me or the CEC and is thus unconstitutional. Those who attend this illegal meeting will be doing so at his/ her risk of being automatically disqualified/ debarred/ suspended from the Naga People’s Front ‘s primary and active membership,” said Dr Shurhozelie Lizietsu in a statement.

Meanwhile, NPF led by Dr Shurhozelie said in another statement that, “it has come to the notice of the Naga People’s Front, central headquarters, that an unauthorised person by the name of Thangsat Kuki, formerly office secretary of the NPF and presently with the Rio group, has been circulating on the social media an illegal circular calling for a meeting of the CEC on August 22”.

Pointing out a clause in the party constitution, the Dr Shurhozelie group said, “Article IV (3) (c) (iii) of the Constitution of the NPF party clearly states that ‘any member of the Party may requisition a meeting of the CEC by presenting to the president a memorandum signed by 1/3rd or more of the CEC and such a meeting be convened within 15 days from the date of receipt.”’

Meanwhile, the Neiphiu Rio led NPF said that the ‘Media and Press Bureau’ of Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu “has no legality in propagating the agenda of the minority group since the voice of the majority in the Legislature and the Party set up is solidly behind Neiphiu Rio who has been popularly chosen to lead the NPF party”.

The Rio NPF camp also added, “If there is any illegality anywhere, it is with the minority NPF group and its ‘Misinformation and Propaganda Bureau’ which is relentlessly trying to confuse the people with concocted versions and misinterpretations of the laws of the country and the Constitution of the NPF.”

 The Rio led NPF then said that the rival group “utterly disregarded the voice of the majority” and contended, “It has now become incumbent upon Neiphiu Rio to function as the full-fledged President of the NPF party.”