Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee President K Therie.
File image of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee President K Therie.

The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Sunday pledged its support to the Naga Peopleโ€™s Front (NPF) if elected in the 26-Aonglenden A/C by-election.

The development came a day after state chief minister Neiphiu Rio ridiculed the NPF for supporting Congress candidate K L Chishi for the coming Lok Sabha Elections terming it a โ€˜mockeryโ€™.

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A decision to this effect was made known through a press statement issued by the press secretary of NPCC president, K Therie on Sunday.

Therie, in a press statement issued by his press secretary Keso Chakhesang, promised that โ€˜If elected, we will support the secular NPF forceโ€™.

Defending the NPF decision to support the Congress candidate, Therie stated that the decision has strengthened secular forces and their demand for removal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill .

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Therie further stated that it also strengthens the โ€˜foremost important issue to carry forward the peace talks for a final solutionโ€™.

Terming the NPF support a sacrifice in the interest of secular forces, he added that it was magnanimous and above political boundaries.

He also added in the statement that if a Congress legislator is elected, that representative will be the โ€˜salt in the State Assembly curryโ€™.

The battle, Therie stated, was between the โ€˜ideological forces of communal Hindutva versus secularism and the freedoms it offers and the fabric of unity in diversityโ€™, according to reports.

According to the NPCC president, NPF and Congress were standing together to protect the Naga faith and identity and to carry the political negotiations forward for a solution at the earliest. He appealed to the NPF and like-minded political parties and thinkers, to work together in 26-Aolengden Assembly Constituency by-election.