File picture of Rio (centre) at a recent news meet in Guwahati. He accused the Congress of trying to destabilise the government instead of seeking power through polls

Kohima, Jan. 2: The Nagaland People’s Front, the main constituent of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland, today reacted to the news of the Union cabinet recommending President’s rule in the state in contradictory voices.

The chief minister’s office dismissed the news outright, saying it was a mere rumour floated by the Opposition Congress.

Abu Metha, the press secretary to the chief minister, told The Telegraph that the government was undeterred by such rumours.

He said chief minister Neiphu Rio had not even convened a meeting of his ministers to discuss the matter.

He criticised the Congress for trying to destabilise the government through “unfounded and malicious propaganda”.

However, a senior party leader and minister, Shurhozelie Liezietsu, appeared to be convinced about the veracity of the report doing the rounds.

Terming the Union cabinet’s decision as a forcible imposition of central rule on the state, Liezietsu said the front and its allies were ready for the battle ahead. “We are prepared to face any eventuality that may arise out of the forcible imposition of President’s rule in the state.”

The minister said the ruling coalition was ready to face the consequences, as hardly one-and-a-half months were left for the Assembly elections.

Taking the fight to the people, he said it was they who would make the judgment as they would have to face the consequences of President’s rule.

Liezietsu said the Congress was desperate to dislodge the popular, welfare government, which was going “all out” to develop the state. “They want to stop the development taking place in the state,” he added.

He said President’s rule meant army rule and the Nagas would only suffer under it.

The government would be voted to power again as the people were aware of the good work being done by the Rio government, he added.

Even as Liezietsu lashed out at the Congress for trying to topple the government, its leaders who are camping in New Delhi for more than three weeks to demand President’s rule in the state were also unaware of the cabinet decision.

Congress parliamentary secretary and legislator K.V. Pusa as well as Nagaland PCC secretary (administration) and legislator Medokul Sophie told this correspondent that they had come to know about the development through newspaper reports.

Both Pusa and Sophie said they had not received any communication from the party leadership on the decision, but hoped that the Centre would accept their demand.

After failing to convince Delhi about the imposition of President’s rule in the state, the Congress had alleged that Rio had entered into a nexus with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to defeat the Congress in the February elections. In this scenario, the Congress would hardly win 20 of the 60 Assembly seats, it added.

The Congress also alleged that the Naga militant outfit had identified at least 11 party candidates whom they would stop from winning.

It accused the NSCN (I-M) of wanting a weak government in the state so that it could control it and the Rio government of running a proxy government for the NSCN (I-M).