Dimapur, October 4 (MExN): Senior Congress leaders including legislators, PCC and district leaders today issued a statement alleging that a number of underground leaders, including ‘kilonsers’ and cadres have threatened supporters of senior Congress leader SI Jamir to pull out of the race to the post of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president. The underground faction accused of intimidation was not mentioned in the statement, signed by more than 50 senior Congress leaders, including MLAs, former legislators and district leaders of the party, supporting SI Jamir.
The statement accused SI Jamir’s main opponent in the NPCC polls, I Imkong, of attempt-to-sabotage using the undergrounds. “With the day of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee re-poll scheduled on October 6 fast-approaching, Shri. I. Imkong is engaged in his last leg campaign that is taking an ugly turn by deputing some members of one of the underground factions,” the statement alleged. PCC members were confronted and threatened by underground leaders and cadres on the night of October 2, the statement said.
The leaders said that on October 2 at around 8.00 PM, two “ss. Major” and some cadres came to the residence “of the former deputy chief minister” threatening him to support I Imkong. Failing to do so, the statement said, the undergrounds refused to leave his residence. “The discussion went on for more than an hour. Finally, they understood his position and left. On the same night, two ‘kilonsers’ and some 10 cadres went to the Dimapur residence of one PCC member of Wokha district and told him to support I Imkong. They even went to the extent of telling him that the PRO may not come to Kohima to conduct the re-poll,” Jamir’s supporters said.
Likewise, one deputy ‘kilonser’, a ‘Tatar’ and some underground cadres are allegedly staying in the Kohima residence of a senior PCC member of Tuensang district and are threatening him to support I Imkong.
“They are refusing to leave his residence till he concedes to their demand. The PCC members of Kohima district supporting SI Jamir were also approached in the same manner. Besides, some PCC members and DCC presidents supporting SI Jamir have been receiving SMSes warning them to support I. Imkong,” the statement said.
“The particular underground faction has threatened the PCC members supporting SI. Jamir with appropriate action against them in the next state general election. Taking serious note of the threats, the supporters of SI Jamir make it public that, if any untoward incident happens to any one of its members, I. Imkong will be held solely responsible,” the Congress leaders said.
The Congress leader reminded that the PCC organizational election is an internal affair of the Congress party and no “outside force” should meddle in its internal affairs. The Congress leaders have asked the “higher authorities” of the underground groups to restrain their rank and file to desist from interfering in the election process directly or indirectly. “They are also appealed to honour the principle and spirit of Covenant of Reconciliation signed at the initiative of Forum for Naga Reconciliation,” the statement added.
