‘22 BJP leaders joining oppn NPF over CAA is a good beginning’

Kohima: Newly-elected Naga People’s Front (NPF) working president Thenucho Tunyi on Monday expressed that the joining of 22 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders into the party is a “good beginning”.

In a conversation with EastMojo, Tunyi, who is a fomer Speaker of the State Assembly, said: “NPF can protect the interest of Nagas”. He took over as the NPF’s working president on February 3 this year.

Taking a strong stand against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019, as many as 22 members, some even of senior level, of the Nagaland state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had left the party and joined the opposition NPF at a ceremony held in Dimapur on February 11.

Tunyi revealed that the party has decided to “educate on the implications of CAA in the long run”, adding that sooner or later, CAA will give opportunities to illegal immigrants. “Any party or individual who supported the CAA will realise that they are on the wrong side,” he added.

The former home minister said that more people are likely join the party in the days to come. He then said that if the BJP falls at the Centre, its members may also join the party.

Earlier, Nagaland’s BJP president Temjen Imna Along conveyed “sincere appreciation” on behalf of the saffron party to the 22 former members who joined the Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF).

Along had said: “State BJP will always cherish the selfless services these defected members had rendered towards the party , and hope that their dominant union with NPF will undoubtedly boost the spirit of the opposition party , as well as facilitate the NPF to bear much fruits.”