Congress appeals to underground not to involve in polls

Kohima, Feb 27 (UNI) The Nagaland Congress today appealed to all underground factions to refrain from the Nagaland Assembly election and appealed to their leaders to stop their cadres from campaigning and supporting any candidate.

Addressing a press conference here, Leader of Opposition I Imkong said the Congress was committed to the Naga people to bringing a peaceful, negotiable and acceptable settlement of the Naga political issue.

He said the Centre was insisting on holding talks within the framework of the Indian Constitution, but the underground factions were not accepting it.

The Congress would only prepare the ground for talks and not involve in the direct talks, he said.

Asked about the implementation of the 16-point agreement, he said, '' The agreement is such document, which has accorded statehood to the state. Some points of the Agreement are implemented, but some points are yet to be implemented and the Congress in its manifesto has termed it as the party's ''Bible'' for the next five years. '' He alleged that several cadres of the NSCN(IM) were campaigning in favour of the Nagaland Peoples' Front (NPF) candidates in his constituency and appealed to the outfit leaders to keep their words not to involve in the election process.

He also gave some example that the NSCN cadres harassed his workers and intimidated the people of the areas. He also said that several NSCN-IM cadres are entered in the constituency and asked the people to support the NPF candidates.

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