Shürhozelie Liezietsu
NPF President
Apropos the article published in The Morung Express under the caption “The Adulterated Regionalism” by senior politician in Nagaland (Z. Lohe) which appeared in Public Discourse Column on April 14, 2018, I am constrained to give few clarifications to put the record straight although I normally avoid debate with others on any issue of this nature.
The writer expressed his ignorance of how this regional party – the Cock Party - was formed in Nagaland. But I want to remind him that he was once a strong man in this ‘cock’ party. If it is really necessary for anyone to tell him how this party was established, let me remind him that this regional party was established by few Naga leaders whose integrity had withstood the test of time. In their first meeting on 21st Oct., 1963 they adopted a resolution which reads, “The party will have its primary object, the restoration of peace and normalcy…”; because this party was born in the midst of bloodshed and violence. I am sure, the writer is aware of it. The NPF party upholds this commitment and will continue to pursue the same till the Naga political problem is solved honorably. There is no adulteration towards this principle.
Let me also remind him that, as a student leader, he was a hero on Naga political issue during 1977. After coming back from College, he first joined this ‘Cock’ party. Later on, he shifted his loyalty to Congress; again he joined this party and acted as Advisor to the Chief Minister in 2012, he had gone back to Congress after some time, and then from Congress, his group split and formed Reformation Party but later on dissolved again and merged into National People’s Party (NPP), a political party from Meghalaya. In the last elections, his party, NPP, signed pre-poll alliance with NPF but after the election result was out, they had u-turn and joined the present Government. The writer himself is a leader in NPP and he knows that NPF and NDPP are two different political parties with different policies which he made attempt to level the differences and branded them as one in which both are adulterated. If these two parties are same, why NPP shifted from NPF to NDPP? No one gains including NPP, the writer’s political party, by making such misinterpretations. Let one calls it anything but NPF and NDPP are not same. It will be appreciated if one does not intentionally make attempt to confuse the people.
The writer also expressed his ignorance of how NPF was part of Janata Party in 1977. In 1977, all non-Congress political parties in India came together against the misrule of Congress party of that particular period of time and formed Janata Party. The Janata Party stormed into power in 1977 Parliamentary Election in India. We, being non-Congress political party, have extended support to the Janata party but we maintained our own separate identity in Nagaland with name, flag, symbol and manifesto etc. of our own. The claim of the writer saying that Janata Party had changed into BJP is also not true because there was no BJP at that time. BJP came into being later on.
Copying the 1977 formula, NPF formed a platform for all non-congress political parties in Nagaland to come together on the eve of 2003 General Elections to fight against the misrule of Congress, in which NDM, BJP and 7 other political parties joined us and in 2003 General Election in Nagaland we could take over the Government that year. Since then BJP was with us for the last 15 years. When BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, we were, indeed, happy because BJP was with us as an alliance partner in Nagaland at that time. But very soon, they, perhaps, became impatient and they wanted to dictate us from within which were found to be not very healthy. Taking advantage of the crisis created by some ambitious leaders from within the NPF, BJP started attacking us in many forms including my personality with their imaginations that my presence in power had underscore the BJP’s role as king maker. And with that imagination, they dismissed my Government in 2017 without any reason. Naga people including the writer himself are all aware of it. Therefore, NPF severed tie with them without any hesitation. In the meantime, Central BJP leaders approached us a number of times and requested us to reconsider our decision of severing tie with them. Therefore, the matter was taken up by CEC and resolved to maintain the earlier status of alliance. Earlier status means we are on our own and they on their own without any interference on the jurisdiction of one another. But during 2018 election, they wanted us to concede 15 seats to them on seat sharing basis which we found difficult to agree upon although we could examine few in good faith if necessary. In the meantime, another political party conceded 20 seats to them and therefore, BJP had gone away from us by themselves in search of greener pasture.
I want to make my position very clear to the people of Nagaland that today NPF has no string whatsoever attached to BJP. Let no man create confusion with his own suppositions and imaginations. BJP is now running a de facto Govt. with all other political parties in Nagaland including NPP. Today, NPF is the Opposition Party in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. Therefore, there is no confusion and no adulteration.
Regarding NPF support to BJP in Manipur Government at present, the argument put forth by the writer is logical for the moment. The party is not blind to it but it is not yet time for us to speak about it. We will bring up the issue at the right time.
Lastly, the writer has commented that as a people we may not necessarily feel helpless. If this comment is given from one’s own heart it is not proper for a regional minded person like the writer to project the image of our people to the outside world as if there is no one in Nagaland who thinks and cares for the future of our people. Whatever may be the behavior of our politicians, there are many Nagas who have great concern for our identity, our personality and our future. Yes, I agree that we may not necessarily feel helpless.
