DIMAPUR, June 4 ? The war of words between the ruling Democratic Alliance government in Nagaland and the Opposition Congress party has hit the headlines of the local media in the State. After an untiring innings involving the state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on the ruling side and former Chief Minister SC Jamir and the leader of Opposition I Imkong on the other side, now the ?bouncer? has come from the secretary general of the Nagaland People?s Front, the major constituent of the ruling DAN.
The NPF, refuting the recent statements of the leader of opposition, said that the ?Congressman?s statements? were unfortunate, uncalled for and most un-parliamentary?. The secretary general of NPF, Chubatemjen Ao asserted that ?Imkong?s utterances only confirms that the Congress party is still in a trauma and unable to overcome the shock of defeat suffered in the popular verdict of the recent elections?.
Chubatemjen said, ?It is still fresh in the minds of the people as to how the former Chief Minister SC Jamir had hijacked the elections of 1993 by the barrel of the gun and how in 1998 the Congress again betrayed the Naga people and managed to run ?an unmandated and unpopular? government.? Attacking the former Chief Minister, he said that if a man of Jamir?s stature and experience cannot reconcile to the position to which the people have placed him, someone has to point it out.
Contrary to Congress leader Imkong?s statements, the secretary general claimed, the NPF-led DAN government?s coming to power was possible not because of the ?blessings of any organizations? but because of the popular support of the people, and added that God answered the prayers of many believers irrespective of the religion to which one belongs to.
Remarking on his political rival Imkong?s accusations of Rio as ?unbecoming of a Christian leader?, Chubatemjen said that it is Imkong who sounds most unreligious and said that his statement spews venom serving as reminders to the people to recall how many ?Christian leader-like denials? have been made by SC Jamir and other Congress leaders over the years.?
The secretary general, reaffirming the statements of the leader of his party and Chief Minister Rio said that the Congress party?s politics and policies were against the interest of the Naga people but the present chief minister is the ?right person? to judge the Congress as he was the ?No 2? in the Congress set up. ?People should be grateful for his courage to come out with full truth,? he said.
Earlier, Imkong refuting Rio?s statement that ?Jamir?s chapter in Nagaland politics is closed?, said that decision can be taken only by the people. He also accused the ruling DAN of attempting to close the Congress chapter through ?foul and unconstitutional means but that the discerning Naga people have realized in the past more than two and half months where the NPF-led DAN conglomeration, with diverse interests actually stood? and for which many have already started aspiring for an alternative government that ?is free from external influences.? Imkong termed a ?blatant lie? DAN?s assertion that it did not take any help from underground factions during the elections and said the assertion was ?absolutely unbecoming of a Christian leader?.