NPF suspends Rajya Sabha MP Kenye

KG Kenye (File Photo)

KOHIMA, JANUARY 8 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) today suspended Member of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha, KG Kenye from primary and active membership of the party.

In a notice to Kenye, who was also the party’s General Secretary, NPF President, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu said that the party’s Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) on December 27, 2019 examined the former’s reply to a Show Cause Notice and recommended discussing his reply in a bigger forum within the party. Thereafter a consultative meeting was convened on January 7 at the NPF Central Office Kohima. The MP was given time slot present his point of view. 

However, the House decided to stick to the CEC resolution dated January 31, 2019 to oppose the CAB/CAA. 

“The house was not convinced with the explanation rendered by you and arrived at a consensus opinion that you acted contrary to the said resolution. Hence, the matter was referred back to the DAC and the DAC, after proper application of mind, recommended Suspension of your Membership from the Party,” the notice stated.

It meanwhile further observed that the MP’s press conference after receiving the show cause notice was “deplorable.” “While, you may have your own personal reasons in voting in favour of CAB/CAA, however, as far as the party stand is concerned, there is no change till date and the stand of the party remains the same to oppose CAB/CAA. Hence, your conduct and action inside the Rajya Sabha on this particular issue do not reflect and represent the stand of the NPF in any manner,” it stated.

The NPF further stated that the MP’s reply to the show cause notice was “not only evasive but an attempt to dictate terms on the party by bringing your own interpretation on CAB/CAA and forcing the party to embrace it as the party’s collective stand.” It termed Kenye’s justification as “flimsy and irrelevant" adding that "mere reference of BEFR 1873 and ILP in the CAA 2019 neither becomes a law nor empower the state with sweeping powers.” 

It stated that the MP “willfully refused to be subjected to party discipline” and said that such action was “unbecoming and a direct assault to the NPF constitution."

The NPF reminded the MP that he would still be bound by the Whip of the Naga People’s Front on the floor of the Upper House of Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) as per the existing law and judicial decisions of the Supreme Court.