Mokokchung, September 15 (MTNews): The Rising People’s Party (RPP) has slammed the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) led Nagaland government for ‘blatant abuse of state power’ after making public the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s letter to Home Minister Amit Shah to retain the services of DGP T. John Longkumer who had retired on 31st August 2022.
“The 6 months service extension of DGP T. John Longkumer who had retired on 31st August 2022 is nothing but blatant abuse of state power which is liable to attract court proceedings against the political leadership,” stated RPP in a press release issued on Thursday.
The Rising People’s Party said that it cannot allow the state to manipulate public office for personal ambitions and devious political agenda.
Hitting out at the Chief Minister, the press statement by the RPP further read, “The letter written by the Chief Minister Rio to the Home Minister of India Amit Shah is a crystal clear indication that the NDPP-BJP Coalition is retaining the services of the present DGP for political reasons.”
On 25 August 2022, the Chief Minister’s letter to Shah, a copy of which the RPP shared with the press, mentioned, “It is also worth mentioning that that the state is facing assembly elections in a few months’ time and it is essential to have continuity at the top leadership of the police force to deal with any law and order problems that may arise during elections.”
On this, the RPP said, “The underlying meaning of the Chief Minister’s letter is very clear that he intends to manipulate the police force and the administrative machinery to undermine, coerce, and threaten his political opponents in the next general election – and win by hook or by crook by subverting free and fair elections”.
Censuring the Chief Minister for not following the rule of law with regards to the extension of services of DGP T. Longkumer, the RPP said, “Also as per the letter of the UPSC to the chief secretary dated 1st April 2022, the UPSC had clearly refused to entertain T. John Longkumer but the rule of law has been blatantly disregarded and the state government led by the CM has not heeded the directions/ruling of the Supreme Court.” A copy of the letter from UPSC to the state government was also made available to the media.
“Therefore, let it be made clear to all the Naga people that the sole motive for the Chief Minister retaining John Longkumer is to win the coming election for the NDPP-BJP Coalition at any cost,” said RPP in its press release.
The RPP said that it will take up this issue with the Election Commission of India shortly.
“In the meantime, the Rising People’s Party along with few publicly spirited lawyers and individuals is filing a petition before the Supreme Court of India with regard to violation of laid down guidelines on the appointment of DGPs in the state,” RPP informed.
“The Chief Minister cannot be allowed to subvert Free and Fair elections,” RPP said.
