In a strongly worded statement, the Rising People’s Party (RPP) condemned the recent death threat issued to Mr. Rulho by the NSCN (Khango) group. The party also criticized the NDPP/BJP coalition government for deflecting responsibility onto the Ceasefire Monitoring Group/Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFMG/CFSB) instead of addressing the issue directly.
The RPP stated that various civil society organizations, including youth and business/trade bodies, should not bypass the government on this issue. The party stressed that the primary responsibility for maintaining law and order lies with the state government, not the CFMG/CFSB.
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Reflecting on the state’s political history, the RPP noted that the Rio-led NPF government first came to power in 2003 with the support of a certain faction, aiming to unseat the then SC Jamir ministry. After their electoral victory, the Rio government implemented a policy of “Equi-Closeness” with all factional groups, which at the time numbered around four to five. This policy, according to the RPP, legitimized the factions and their anti-people activities. Additionally, the Government of India exploited this policy to implement a “Divide and Rule” strategy, leading to the proliferation of factional groups, which now number 24.
The RPP accused CM Rio of giving operational freedom to these factions for the past 21 years in exchange for unchallenged political power. The party criticized the state government for repeatedly shirking its responsibilities and passing the buck to the CFMG/CFSB, likely influenced by certain organizations.
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The statement also took aim at the Deputy Chief Minister, emphasizing that anti-social elements should not be “requested” to stop their activities but should be arrested. The RPP asserted that the state police force is fully capable of tackling extortion within a week if given a free hand. However, the political leadership’s unwillingness to empower the police continues to hinder effective action.
The RPP concluded by stating that until the state government acknowledges and addresses this reality, the threat of violence and lawlessness will persist, likening it to the Sword of Damocles hanging over the state’s citizens.