LH backs Mmhonlumo

In a befitting response, Lotha Hoho has come out with a strong message that sacked parliamentary secretary Mmhonlumo Kikon “ is a leader of the Lothas and the Lotha people will stand by him as long as he does right for the Lotha people” in response to the reports that chief minister T.R. Zeliaing removed him because of failure to convince LH to withdraw its PIL against NP&NG Regulations and Rules 2012.

 Lotha Hoho through a joint statement issued by its chairman Mhao Humtsoe and general secretary Er. Mhondamo Ovung, reiterated that Kikon was elected by the Lotha people to stand for their rights, protect them and lead them and not to be “the errand runner of someone” and called on all Naga MLAs to note that each of them were representatives of a constituency and thus, all were basically equal.

LH clarified that though it has no political interest nor was it against T.R. Zeliang so long interests of Lothas was not undermined but it was displeased to learn that Mmhonlumo’s sacking was related with the PIL it filed. LH clarified that Mmhonlumo had not discussed the issue of anomalies of NP&NG 2012 Regulations and Rules with it nor was he in any way connected with the filing of PIL. 

LH demanded the chief minister to justify why he sacked Mmhonlumo since no reason was given when he was sacked.If the reason was due to the PIL, then LH said it failed to understand why the present DAN ministry was hell bent on having the PIL withdrawn. It pointed out that the Supreme Court had ruled that once a PIL was filed, it cannot be withdrawn till it reached logical conclusion.

Therefore, LH asked why unnecessary efforts and resources should be spent to entrust people to convince it (LH) to withdraw PIL?.

After experiencing pressure exerted on it through numerous agencies, entrusted by “unscrupulous authorities, to withdraw the PIL”; LH said this was due to a hidden agenda of vested interests since its PIL had in no way, infringed upon the interests of Nagas or Article 371A. Further LH asserted that its PIL was not against any political party of in any way, undermined or hindered the interests of anyone be it Nagas or stakeholders, but only for the rights of landowners be it Lotha or any other.

“PIL is purely for sustaining the provisions of Article 371A” maintained LH and questioned why would anyone be so keen to undo its initiative to safeguard Naga landowners “unless there is hidden agenda with vested interest?”

LH also asked Metropolitan Oil and Gas Private Limited (MOGPL) why was it particularly targeting Wokha district only and not starting work in Peren where it was also issued permit for exploration and development works? 

Further, LH raised the following points and urged upon Naga intellectuals to analyse them and arrive at logical conclusion: 

LH pointed that as per media reports, Mmhonlumo was appointed as parliamentary secretary on April 27, 2015 in order to pressurise it (LH) to withdraw PIL. 

LH said it was ridiculous since it filed the PIL on October 3, 2015 and so how could Mmhonlumo commit himself to withdraw the PIL which had not been filed at that time (April) five months after his induction?

LH also asked whether it was being taken as a commodity for marketing by making numerous agencies to pursue it to withdraw the PIL?

LH also asked if the sacking of Mmhonlumo was a “visionary step” so that Lothas can be suppressed in border issues without him,who had held the portfolio as parliamentary secretary?