THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sacked Nagaland governor Dr. M.M. Thomas termed the reported suggestion in an Intelligence Bureau report that he was sympathetic towards the insurgent movements in the region and partial to Christian missionaries as a “fabrication”
Speaking to correspondents on his arrival here Dr. Thomas said “Let them publish it I have never had an inkling of that kind of a report. In fact the intelligence head has always been with me must be a fabrication you know. The home officials are capable of such fabrications. This must be one. In any case they have to find some reason (for sacking).
Dr. Thomas said that if sympathizing with the Nagao search for self-identity was seen as encouraging insurgency he did not agree. “It is only by encouraging the search for self-identity that you really integrate them “he added.
On the allegation that he was encouraging the Christian missionaries he said there were no such missionaries now. In the “50s they were all asked to leave by the government
Dr. Thomas who said he had come out in glory did not feel he should have consulted the Center on the dissolution of the assembly Even the home minister had not questioned the legality of the action. “I did what I considered was right” he said.
He said at least six times earlier he had acted on his own During V.P. Singhs tenure as Prime Minister the minister of state for home had rung him up during such a crisis. Dr. Thomas responded “This is my matter I will deal with it I don’t want to consult you”
Dr. Thomas who was in Nagaland for two years felt the Congress had been using the Presidents rule to come to power and probably they had a similar game plan in Nagaland.
Asked whether he was wrong in not ascertaining whether the chief minister Vamuzo did when he recommended dissolution of the assembly Dr. Thomas emphatically denied that Vamuzo had lost majority. “During 10 days of the session he got the motion of thanksgiving on the governors address passed got his candidate for Rajya Sabha elected and got the budget passed he comes to me with a complete majority proved thrice. So there is no question that he has lost majority.”
However he said Vamuzo could have feared such a Possibility which was reflected in his lever to him. On his refusal to Suspend and prosecute the chief secretary S.S. Ahluwalia who had been charged) with corruption Dr. Thomas said that the central vigilance commission had
Article extracted from this publication >> April 24, 1992
