The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has said, “The NSCN IM is no longer working for the welfare of the whole Naga people but busy making business of profits and positions with the electioneering game”.
In a press release issued on Saturday, the Zeliangrong insurgent outfit condemned the recent incident in Noney wherein an independent candidate for Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, Alyson Abonmai and his team were allegedly detained, harassed and banned from conducting election campaign in Noney and Tamenglong by NSCN (IM) cadres and UNC volunteers.
The incident was widely circulated on social media platforms wherein Alyson Abonmai and his team were humiliated and threatened with dire consequences and were not even allowed to buy vegetables from local vendors.
ZUF stated that a person who claimed to be a town commander of NSCN (IM) forcefully snatched/removed the flag of the independent candidate from the vehicles at Noney Bazar. Similar incidents had also been witnessed in some parts of Ukhrul District, wherein the public meeting of INC candidate for Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, Alfred K Arthur, was disrupted with gunfire, in more than one occasion.
ZUF, in its previous press release on March 23, 2024, had called for “Free and Fair election” in all Zeliangrong inhabited areas in particular and the Naga areas in general.
The Zeliangrong United Front said, “It is very unthought-of and shameful that the NSCN (IM) are interested in Indian electoral politics and openly working for NPF candidate with ulterior motive of treating Zeliangrong people as a second-class Naga”.
“When our own son of the soil is being treated like this, where is our secure stand and political ethics of Zeliangrong people if such challenges are let free in our society?”.
The outfit also asked how long the people would remain mute spectators under the dictatorial rule of NSCN (IM) taking the pretext of Naga Nationalism and over powering them with the hands of tyranny. “It is the social ethic of every Indian society to practice free and fair elections in a democratic process”, it said, asserting that voters should be enabled to make their free choice to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice without fear or control from any quarter.
ZUF went on to state that every candidate and political party shall have an equal opportunity of access to mass communications in order to put forth their political views and interests.
“While ZUF is advocating for free and fair elections, the NSCN IM goes on detecting and hunting to kill anyone who stands in the way”, it said while mentioning the Joint Secretary of ZUF, Alur Seikho, who was dragged out of a house and killed in open public space.
“The nature of aggressiveness by the NSCN (IM) should be put to an end once for all”, it said, and warned that if NSCN (IM), UNC and affiliating units continue the act of forcefully threatening and intimidating the public to support NPF, the ZUF would deal with their iron hands and the people indulging in such activities should bear the responsibility of any consequences that transpired from their actions.
The insurgent group also urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take the necessary measures for free and fair elections, thereby ensuring various political parties and candidates to enjoy a reasonable opportunity and platform to present their electoral interests in all the areas.
