Imphal, October 31: Coming down heavily on the Congress MLA from Mao Assembly Constituency RK Thekho, the United Naga Council (UNC) has dubbed the MLA Judas Iscariot for selling out the Nagas' political rights.

According to the New Testament of the Holy Bible Judas Iscariot was a disciple of Jesus Christ who betrayed him.

The tongue lashing of the UNC on the sitting Congress MLA from Mao Assembly Constituency came as a reaction to the recent MLA's statement to the press with regard to the forthcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly Election which is scheduled to be held after three months.

Congress MLA RK Thekho had told the media in the Nagaland capital, Kohima, that the NSCN-IM was trying to wipe out the Congress from the Naga dominated areas of Manipur and added that Naga militant group was issuing threats through the United Naga Council (UNC).

This statement of the Congress MLA has already been published in The Telegraph.

In a statement issued to Newmai News Network today by its information and publicity secretary S Milan, the UNC pointed out the reason for RK Thekho's outburst and claimed that the main reason for the outburst was because the MLA had lost his support base.

"Let it be known to all and sundry that RK Thekho has already become a persona non grata in his village Tungjoy.

On the Ocotber 14, 2006 when the Tungjoy public gathered to decide on the candidature for the general election, RK Thekho stormed out of the Village Asembly before it concluded knowing fully, he had lost his support base.

Under this compelling circumstances, he has changed his strategy towards NSCN (IM) and started UNC 'bashing' so that he can be in the good books of the high command and retain the Congress (I) ticket for the forthcoming General Assembly Election to be held in February/March 2007," charged the UNC statement.

The UNC then said that RK Thekho had attended the Naga Hoho's dialogue on October 25 at Zonal Council Hall, Kohima which was well participated by over 30 Naga civil societies and eminent Nagas�a platform where all the many prominent Nagas were invited to express their opinions on the present state of affairs of the Nagas .

"Instead of addressing his fellow Nagas RK Thekho left the meeting halfway and willfully chose the media to vent his frustration in the form of a 'lone' spokesperson of the party he represents," alleged the UNC.

"It is anyone's guess that a private member Bill may/will be defeated on the floor of the House over the unification/integration of the broken homeland of Nagas.

But as a signatory to the UNC's undertaking at Senapati on 7th February, 2002 , it is a bounden duty of RKThekho and rest of the Naga MLAs to express the resolved of the Naga people to live as one people.

The same private member Bill was defeated in Arunachal Pradesh in 2003-04.If they (Naga MLAs in Arunachal) can table it, why not ours?," questioned the Naga civil body while adding, "when over 50,000 Naga students career from Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul were in high stake over the shift of affiliation from the Board of Secondary Manipur (BSEM) to the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), RK.Thekho and his ilks did not speak a single word in support of ANSAM's and NSF's endeavuor for affiliation except BD.

Behring, Wungnaoshang Keishing, Danny Shaiza, Henry Paotei and Samuel Jendai (all Naga MLAs) and the rest is history!" The UNC then termed Thekho's allegation that the NSCN (IM) was using the UNC to wipe out the Congress (I) from the Naga dominated areas of Manipur as just the MLA's illusion and without any foundation.

Recalling the past the Naga civil body reminded that RK.Thekho was one the former presidents of the UNC.

"We held him in high esteemed.

He was our leader but now his true colour has emerged beyond any doubt.

Therefore, we can say in the least that, he is in the process of making yet another Judas Iscariot at the cost of the Naga's political rights", rued the United Naga Council.

Thekho accusing the UNC of having special rapport with the NSCN holds no water at all since all the Naga Civil Societies including the UNC is fully supporting and backing the ongoing Indo-Naga Peace process for bringing about an honourable and acceptable solution, concluded the UNC.

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