Guwahati: North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma has downplayed the latest threat made by the NSCN-IM against Nagaland Minister Temjen Imna Along as a miscommunication.
The political leader has claimed that he does not believe the incident occurred since that the rebel group does neither directly nor indirectly engage in state elections. Sarma remarked, “This must be some miscommunication,” adding that he does not take notice of the situation as it seems to be a local one.
A letter advising residents of the Alongtaki constituency not to support BJP candidate Temjen Imna Along is said to have been signed by NSCN-IM leader Lanuwati Jamir. The letter was supposedly taken up by the Assam Rilfes on February 22.
Currently, Lanuwati Jamir is under police custody. The arrest took place following a stir in the state caused by a letter allegedly written by the NSCN-IM advising voters not to support Nagaland BJP president Temjen Imna Along.
The alleged NSCN-IM letter issued a directive to residents of villages within the Alongtaki assembly constituency, from where Temjen Imna Along is running, telling them not to support along in the upcoming Assembly elections and branding him an anti-Naga. The message also threatened harsh punishment for anyone who disobeyed the directive.
Meanwhile, NSCN-IM sources claimed that their Central Committee had not issued any such instructions to the electors in the Alongtaki constituency when approached yesterday over the development. But according to NSCN-IM sources, the organisation would look into the situation now that it has surfaced in the media. The NSCN-IM sources added that there is no discussion about the organisation endorsing or opposing any candidate because it is not participating in the elections in any way.