State BJP party had to call off the election campaign meeting scheduled to be held in the Chiechama Village Council hall after some youths obstructed the party candidate and party workers from going ahead with the meeting.
When the BJP candidate, party leaders and workers reached the venue, they found that some youths and BJP supporters having heated exchange of words. The youths claimed that they control the village council hall and therefore, refused to allow the meeting to be held. The BJP delegation told the youths that the hall belonged to the people and so they cannot disallow the meeting from being held.
Some of the youths also disallowed media persons covering the meeting from sitting inside the hall and warned that they would be doing so at their own risk.
The situation forced some of the crowd inside including media persons from leaving the hall and proceeding towards Chiechama Basa where a press briefing was held.
It may be mentioned that despite presence of a large number of police personnel deployed at the local ground which was some 200 meters away from the village council hall, not a single policeman was the spot where the commotion took place outside the hall.
At Chiechama Basa, located one km away from the village council hall, Rukheto, the chief agent of the BJP candidate Visasolie Lhongu alleged that the election sabotage started Tuesday night when police personnel , allegedly, along with the NPF youths, started frisking vehicles, checking for money and other materials.
He claimed that in the process, the alleged NPF youths damaged some vehicles of state BJP leaders.
Further, Rukheto said the Wednesday’s election meeting was scheduled only after obtaining permission from the Returning Officer and the Village Council Chairman for use of the village council hall.
However, he alleged that on reaching the hall, NPF youths entered the hall and chased out the villagers and other BJP leaders and party workers. He said the NPF youths refused to listen to the pleas made by BJP workers to allow the meeting to go ahead.
Rukheto questioned the village council and the GBs as to why they chose to stay away from the scene when they were supposed to ensure that no situation was created.
He also claimed that though the SP had deputed security personnel who were present at the Chiechama local ground, they however did not intervene to control the situation at the village council hall premises.
Rukheto said the police who were deployed to ensure security of the venue for the meeting, instead chose to remain in the local ground by giving the excuse that they were not authorised by the EAC to tackle any situation.
The candidate’s chief agent further said they BJP candidate, party leaders and workers voluntarily left the venue as they did not want to cause any situation by confronting the NPF youths.
He also informed that the party would be submitting a report to the election authority regarding the incident created by the NPF youths.
Rukhetuo also informed that the party campaign meeting at Chiechama Basa scheduled for Thursday will be decided after a meeting of the party. “We are not afraid of them, but want to gave free and fair election’, he said.
Prashan Arora national BJP leader in-charge of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, president state BJP unit president Dr. M. Chuba and others were listed to address the campaign meeting which was called off.
Visasolie Lhoungu the BJP candidate for the October 15 by election said he and his supporters remained calm after the Touphema incident and Wednesday’s incident since they want a peaceful and fair election.
Visasolie also alleged that the State BJP officials deputed to observe the election process were even threatened by the underground groups.
He said BJP and NPF were alliance partners under DAN-III and that the party meetings/campaigns were about enunciating party objectives and visions. Visasolie accused the EAC of having issued orders to the security personnel to check vehicles of the BJP officials along with the NPF youth at Touphema. He alleged that the NPF party was disturbing BJP campaigns everyday.
Visalolie also thanked the supporters and crowd gathered at Chiechama Basa for going to the venue even after the meeting was cancelled. He promised to take care of the village if elected.
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