Mokokchung, October 22 (MTNews): Responding to the Naga People’s Front (NPF) president Dr. Shurhozelie Lieietsu’s claim that his party faced a bitter experience in 1998 when the Congress party betrayed the Naga people by deciding to go for election, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K. Therie has said that the “allegation” is wrong. The NPF president is reported to have made the statement during the party’s 60th Foundation Day program on Friday in Kohima.
“The allegation of Dr. Shurhozelie that Congress betrayed in 1998 is wrong. Congress did not agree to boycott elections with anyone in 1998. As such question of betrayal does not arise,” Therie stated in a press release on Saturday.
Therie went on to say that the Congress supported NPF Candidates in all assembly constituencies where INC candidates did not contest in 2018 February election. He also said that Congress party supported NPF candidate C. Apok Jamir in the Lok Sabha election in 2018 May bye-election.
Saying that he is grateful to NPF for supporting Congress candidate KL Chishi, former chief minister, Therie added that they lost because 7 NPF MLAs “betrayed” them. “Then they were joined by others when 21 MLAs defected. From 26 it has come down to 4,” Therie added. He also said that NPF’s immunity in resisting defection is weak “perhaps because of compromising with NDPP and BJP whose ideals are Anti-Christian and Anti Nagaland because of Hindutva.”
“Congress is neither the cause of betrayal, nor have we betrayed at any point of time nor have we compromised our faith and secular principles,” Therie reiterated. “I am bound to make this rejoinder to clear the minds of the people from wrong propaganda,” he remarked.