In a press statement issued on 17 September, the Central Youth Organization (CYO) of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) said it was “appalled” by the statements made against Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio by former Chief Minister S C Jamir to a local daily.
An article titled ‘When Solution comes, Muivah or Rio money factor will vanish, says veteran Jamir’ appeared on Nagaland Page earlier this month which reported Jamir as questioning the involvement of Neiphiu Rio and other politicians in the Naga peace talks.
The former chief minister is also quoted as saying, “When there is settlement, Muivah factor is not there; even Rio factor and his money factor will not be there”.
In the press statement, the CYO proceeded to give a brief detail on how Rio’s party managed to defeat the majority led Congress through a period of four elections.
The NPF party won against the majority led Congress in 2003 followed by another win in 2008 when the President’s Rule was imposed by the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. Rio went on to be elected as chief minister for a third term in 2013 but he then decided to give up the position and instead represent the voice of the Nagas “in the national political scene” as an MP in the Lok Sabha, the CYO stated.
During Rio’s absence, the youth organization wrote, Nagaland went through a “period of instability, turmoil, poor governance and breakdown of law and order” while Rio’s own party “betrayed him…with negative politics” which compelled him to return to the state. The CYO pointed out that the NDPP-BJP Alliance won the 2018 elections and Rio became chief minister for “a record fourth term”.
“This proves the fact that the Jamir philosophy of ruling and winning elections with money and power holds no water,” stated the CYO in the press statement.
Pointing out that Jamir had been unsupportive of a peaceful Naga solution for most of his career, the CYO wrote, “It is high time for Mr. S. C. Jamir to call it a day.”
The organization goes on to state that Jamir, while initially against the Framework Agreement, is now asking for the resignation of MLAs, and that while he had stayed away from national political groups before, he then canvassed for a position when Delhi was run by the BJP led NDA government.
“It was always the politics of opportunism for him,” accused the CYO.
The press statement ends with the CYO thanking the public for their support and congratulating Rio for being the “longest serving minister of Nagaland state.”
