NPA Members to demand dismissal of DAN govt in New Delhi today

Kohima, Dec 17 (UNI) All the 31 members of the Nagaland Progressive Alliance (NPA) left for New Delhi last night to urge Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and AICC president Sonia Gandhi to dismiss the Neiphiu Rio-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government.

Addressing a press conference at his official residence here last night, NPA leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly I Imkong told newspersons that all the 31 legislators, who supported the No Confidence Motion on December 13, were leaving for New Delhi to meet Mr Patil and Ms Gandhi today.

''We will demand immediate dismissal of the DAN government in Nagaland as it has been voted out in the No Confidence Motion,'' he said.

Mr Imkong also criticised the Home Minister for delaying his decision in dismissing the DAN government and alleged that Mr Patil was favouring Mr Rio by allowing him to continue the minority government in the state.

He also said Nagaland Governor K Sankaranarayanan had sent his report on December 13 itself and accordingly AICC observer Ranji Thomas, who is presently in Nagaland, was also sending his reports regularly to the party president.

However, Nagaland Assembly Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie had already given his ruling that the Motion had been defeated.

UNI