DIMAPUR, July 15 ? Being snubbed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his colleagues in the downsizing exercise, the JD-U Nagaland has come out strongly against former Congressmen including the Chief Minister and K Therie for dumping the JD-U unceremoniously. The JD-U charged Rio and his ?clique? in the DAN of deliberately ignoring significant contributions made by JD-U in formation of the alliance as well as in the victory of the DAN in the 2003 Assembly polls. The blunt response from the JD-U leadership came following K Therie heavily criticizing former agriculture minister and leader of JD (U) Huska Sumi. Therie had come down heavily on Huska following the latter accusing Rio of selecting many legislators for his downsized council of ministers despite them endorsing the controversial booklet of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Party (NPCC) under the name ?Bedrock of Naga Society?.
Rejecting claims by Therie that Rio and he had resigned from the Congress over the ?Bedrock booklet? issue, president of the JD-U Huska Sumi pointed out that the duo had resigned from the Congress not on grounds of their opposition to the booklet but for what they then termed as ?autocratic and one family rule? of Jamir.
?In fact, both Rio and Therie had endorsed the booklet by signing no matter what they mumble now and should not try to lie. Both of them were not children playing with candies when they signed the controversial document- they were senior Congress leaders as well as Cabinet ministers then?, said a senior party leader of JD -U.