The Hindu : BJP disowns Nagaland party leader's statement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 04, 2003

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National

BJP disowns Nagaland party leader's statement

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 3. The Bharatiya Janata Party has "disowned'' the statement of its legislative wing leader in Nagaland, Hokishe Sema, on the sensitive subject of a "greater Nagaland".

The party general secretary and spokesperson, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said today that the BJP has "fully disowned Dr. Hokishe Sema's statement'' on Naga unity.

The party "totally disagreed with the views expressed by him'', he said.

The BJP president, Venkaiah Naidu, has directed its Nagaland party unit to dissociate itself from Dr. Sema's statement, but for the moment no disciplinary action was being thought of, Mr. Naqvi said.

Apparently, Dr. Sema had said that "it was high time the Nagas decide their future and if they decide to unite, who can say no.''

The Congress has already levelled allegations that the BJP was playing into the hands of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland -Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) and taking its help to topple its Arunachal Pradesh Government.

Manipur had witnessed violence for weeks as people protested fearing the Vajpayee Government may give in to the NSCN(IM) demand for merging parts of Manipur into a "greater Nagaland".

Dr. Sema's statement has alerted the party to its dangerous potential.

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