Ibobi draws Rio’s flak
The Nagaland Chief Minister has expressed resentment over the allegation levelled against him by Manipur Chief Minister. 

AS the Lok Sabha polls are approaching allegations and counter-allegations are flying thick and high in North-East. Blame game is gaining momentum. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has recently expressed resentment over the allegation levelled against him by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh of plotting a conspiracy to destabilise the latter’s government and termed it as a ‘’figment of wild imagination’’.    

The Manipur Chief Minister had alleged that Mr Rio and Mizoram CM Zoramthanga were trying to topple his government with the help of certain elements.

The allegations came in the backdrop of NSCN (IM)’s accusation that a few Manipur legislators, including Manipur Assembly Speaker, were involved in the brutal murder of Elizabeth, the eight-year-old daughter of Manipur GAD minister. Mr. Rio clarified that he had no role in attempting to topple the present Manipur government. “The Manipur Chief Minister will do well to avoid making such allegations at others without facts and details,’’ he said, adding, “Apparently Mr. Singh is trying to blame me for his inability to keep his own house in order and his MLAs together.’’ Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had earlier alleged that the NSCN (IM) was meddling in state politics as in Arunachal Pradesh and in Nagaland by trying to topple his government in connivance with the Opposition alliance by spinning the issue as the former   had strongly opposed the disintegration  of Manipur to form “Greater Nagaland’’.   

The Manipur Government had also asked the Nagaland Government to urge the outfit to hand over the key suspect to the authorities so that appropriate investigation could be carried out. The three Manipur Legislators has vehemently denied the NSCN (IM)’s allegation. The Manipur Chief Minister, defending his party colleagues, termed the allegations as the NSCN (IM)’s desperate attempt to topple his government and also accused the outfit of plotting conspiracy with the state’s Opposition parties of toppling the Secular Progressive Front Ministry.

NSCN (IM) to punish Elizabeth’s murderers

Close on the heels of the decision of the Manipur government to handover the Elizabeth murder case to CBI, the NSCN (IM) has said it would award appropriate punishment to James Kuki, along with his wife Athonliu and another woman accomplice, Achuiliu, the prime accused in the murder of Lungnila Elizabeth, eight-year-old daughter of Manipur GAD Minister Francis Ngajokpa.      

NSCN (IM) Deputy Kilonser (Minister) of Information and Publicity Kraibo Chawang, while showing a footage in which James Kuki confessed to have committed the murder, further alleged that three politicians-Manipur Assembly Speaker T N Haokip and two Ministers Ngamthang Haokip and Gaikhangam — were also involved in the  conspiracy. Mr Chawang said, “the  Government of Peoples’ Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) has set up an inquiry commission to probe the case so that justice could be delivered. As per the confession of the accused, the three Ministers were named as being part of the conspiracy. “The Kilonser further informed that a month’s time would be given to the three Legislators of Manipur allegedly involved in the Elizabeth murder to clarify their stand in connection with the gruesome murder of the eight-year-old girl in last November.   

The NSCN (IM) leader declined to divulge details about the “magnitude of involvement’’ of the three politicians in the crime, and maintained that such disclosures might hinder the process of investigation, which was near completion.

Mr. Chawang also accused the Manipur police of ‘’impeding’’ the process of investigation and said neither was the outfit toeing a communal line in taking up the case nor was it interested in political games. Meanwhile, United Committee Manipur (UCM) has asked the State Government to act quickly and  hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). UCM has also appealed to the NSCN (IM) to hand over the main accused James Kuki to the CBI and facilitate in the investigation work. UCM president S Jadumani said that the State Government should continue with its investigation and keep the people updated on the findings and progress of the case from time to time. Nagaland heading for a multi-cornered contest With all major parties gearing up to fight, Nagaland may witness a multi-cornered contest for the lone Lok Sabha seat. North East News Agency

WITH general elections round the corner, hectic politicking is on in

Nagaland with all major parties gearing up to fight the battle of ballots. The State with only one Lok Sabha seat would witness a multi-cornered contest this time. Sitting Congress Lok Sabha MP Asungba Sangtam will once again try his luck. According to Congress Party sources his name has been forwarded to the Congress High Command for final approval.

Though Mr Sangtam is already a two-time MP from the State, he is expected to face a stiff battle as the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland(DAN) has already  decided to set up a consensus candidate for the seat. DAN comprises Nagaland Peoples Front, BJP and Janata Dal (United). 

The names going round were of former deputy chief minister I. K. Sema, former two-time MP Imchalemba and another senior member C Chang, all from the NPF, the major constituent of the DAN government. The BJP will most likely not field any candidate.

NDM to merge with Congress ahead of LS polls

In what could be described as a shot in arm for the Congress in the North East, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), a pre-poll alliance partner of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), has decided to merge with the Congress. The Congress, which is gearing up to face its toughest ever electoral battle in the North East, will be strenthened by the development. NDM president and former Nagaland Chief Minister K L Chishi, has said the decision was adopted in the party’s central executive council.

Mr Chishi said the Congress had approached the NDM to effect the merger in the greater interests of the people of the state, to resolve the protracted Naga political issue. After the merger, the strength of the Congress, which has 14 MLAs will rise to 15.

The council’s meeting also resolved to extend whole hearted support to the Congress candidate for the coming Lok Sabha K Asungba Sangtam reversing its earlier stand that the party would field its own candidate.  The NDM, which won five seats in the assembly polls in Februrary 2003, now has a lone MLA in the 60-member Nagaland Assembly. Social Security and Welfare  Minister Kihoto Hollohon and Geology and Mining Minister Kipili Sangtam joined the Nagaland People’s Front, the major  onstituent of the DAN, in February 2003 even before the Ministry was formed. Two MLAs out of remaining three, S Heno also joined NPF in July 2003.

AGP, BJP plan to make IMDT poll issue

WITH the election round the corner, the issue of demand for repeal of the controversial Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunal (IMDT) Act, 1983, is once again set to come to the fore. Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and BJP in Assam are planning  to make IMDT repeal demand their poll plank in their bid to frame the ruling Congress here of having a “soft-corner” towards the illegal Bangladeshi migrants that have swarmed the State. Sources in the AGP informed that the party will highlight the affidavit filed by its previous government in Assam in the Supreme Court demanding repeal of the IMDT act on the plea that the act had rather become a hurdle in case detection and deportation of illegal migrants from the State. The BJP is also out to vouch for repeal of the IMDT Act during electioneering. The BJP’s strategy is that it will harp on the sincere efforts made by the NDA government in tabling a bill for repealing the Act in the Parliament. Now the saffron party will campaign during the election on the strength of its opposition to the IMDT Act saying that if the party comes back to power with a clear mandate this time, the days of the IMDT act is numbered. Party sources informed that during the electioneering the BJP will highlight that only 1,501 illegal migrants could be repatriated to Bangladesh from Assam under the provision of the IMDT Act during 1983 to 2002. However, about 4.90 lakh illegal migrants could be deported from West Bengal during 1983 to 1998 using the provisions of foreigners’ act, 1946. Both the AGP and BJP are now preparing to exploit the anti-IMDT sentiments of ethnic voters in Assam.

|  Headlines  |  Editorial   | From Other Publications  |
|  Travel Column   |   News Briefs  |
| OT Main Page | Nena  Home Page  |