The Rising People's Party (RPP) has issued a statement calling for the removal of Nagaland's Minister for Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along, from the Council of Ministers in light of ongoing legal proceedings. The case, filed in the Bombay High Court, accuses the minister of involvement in a fraud case amounting to ₹125 crores.

The RPP expressed concern over what they described as the minister's "trivialization" of the issue, noting that he had referred to the case as a "normal business dispute."

In their press statement, the RPP condemned the minister’s comments, stating, "It’s most galling that the Minister has termed a very serious fraud case for which he may be jailed as ‘normal business dispute’." The party emphasized that such remarks downplay the gravity of corruption and are "condemnable.”

The RPP also criticized the Nagaland State BJP's stance on the issue, accusing them of double standards for not taking action against the minister. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign for a "corruption-free India," the RPP stated, "The State BJP should have been the first to advise Mr. Rio to drop their Minister."

Furthermore, the RPP has commended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for attaching properties belonging to two Naga contractors involved in the construction of the new Kohima High Court complex. The RPP welcomed this move, calling it "overdue." They also called on the ED to pursue the case further, which involves 10 Public Works Department (PWD) engineers and six contractors.

The RPP has also strongly urged Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to grant prosecution sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation to the implicated state officials. “Along with the 6 contractors, the 10 odd officers were implicated by the CBI but the refusal to give prosecution sanction by Rio’s government gives the impression that the politicians fear implication as well," the statement read.

The RPP also mentioned that the intervention of the Kohima High Court bench is seen as a positive development, and it means that the conscientious people of the state can breathe a sigh of relief.