Rio dismisses charges as 'untrue'

Kohima, Oct 5: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today dismissed the allegations levelled against him and the state government about payment to and aiding underground groups.

He termed these allegations 'baseless'.

A release issued by the Chief Minister's Secretariat stated that at no point of time the Chief Minister and the state government extended any type of assistance, monitory or otherwise, as alleged, to any underground group or organisation.

It said every rupee of the government is to be accounted for and recorded, adding that government records are available for verification.

The release further stated that the question of paying crores of rupees to any individual or groups just does not arise. The Chief Minister and the state government made it clear that it was not party to any particular group, nor will it do so in future.

The release also reiterated Rio's stand of the state government of playing the role of facilitator with its declared policy of 'equi- closeness' and said the government would leave no stones unturned in its endeavour to create a congenial atmosphere in the state to strengthen the ongoing peace process and political dialogues.

Rio also condemned the fratricidal and senseless killings in various parts of the state and said such killing would only create more hatred and further divide the society.

UNI