Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee asks Home minister to resign; dismayed by factional clashes

Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has strongly criticized Home minister Imkong L. Imchen and has demanded his resignation for failing to maintain “law and order”.

A press release from NPCC media cell stated that the recent incidents of factional clashes and violence proved “complete breakdown” of the state’s law and order machinery. NPCC also alleged that the “hesitant” home minister has miserably failed in his “political duty and responsibility” to protect the lives of innocent civilians.

NPCC stated every time factional fights take place, the Home minister “either blames the public for non-cooperation or sends out his appeal for maintaining peace” and asserted that if he could not “deliver the goods, he should resign” or the Chief Minister should “drop him” from his council of ministers. “As the Home minister, where is the space for him to appeal or urge? He should act”, said the press release.

While alleging that the Home minister was “entirely responsible” for the breakdown in the law and order situation and that he could not “shy away from” his responsibility, NPCC reminded that the free movement of armed cadres among civilians indicated a “complete lack of co-ordination” between different arms of the state’s law enforcement agencies including the cease-fire monitoring cell.

NPCC also expressed dismay over the “return of factional wars” in the state and has condemned the incidents that took place in Dimapur, Zünheboto and Kohima during the last two weeks. It stated that the incidents causing injury to the civilians, loss of lives and damage to private and public properties were “unacceptable” by the people. It also extended its condolences to the bereaved family members and wished early recovery to the injured.