Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio today responded to allegations by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), that post elections, NDPP will merge with BJP and Assembly elections will likely be advanced by 3 months. Speaking to media persons on the side line of Har Ghar Tiranga programme here at the Heritage, Kisama, Rio refuted all claims made by NPCC President K.Therie and said, “To have election early or not it is not our demand, we don’t know what GoI is thinking but we will prefer to have the elections on time”.
On merger with BJP post-election, Rio said that they have been in alliance with the saffron party since 2003 and the alliance will continue.
“That was not even a rumour but somebody had cooked up the story. So, it is their own story, it is not our story. If they can question their own integrity that is alright but who are they to question my integrity. I have been a leader and having alliance since 2003 with BJP so that system will go. I don’t know anything about the post-merger”, said the Chief Minister.
When asked on the current status of talks between the GoI and NSCN IM, Rio said that the Prime Minister and Home Minister should invite NSCN IM and go minutely about the competencies of the Framework Agreement.
The Chief Minister, informed that a resolution in this regard was clearly adopted by the Parliamentary Committee on Naga political issue on July 16, which was discussed with the Home Minister, NEDA Convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma and Naga peace interlocutor A.K. Mishra. Rio further added that both the centre and NSCN IM must discuss if there are any differences in the competencies which they have agreed upon, as they, as facilitators are not aware of the contents.
Rio further informed that, following Mishra’s invitation to NSCN IM for resuming talks, the NSCN IM and peace Interlocutor AK Mishra had a virtual meeting.
After this, the NSCN IM had asked the Interlocutor to issue a joint statement. However, Mishra refuted the same, since the Framework Agreement is very much alive that there are no more statements to be given on that.
