Rio campaigns for NPF in Manipur

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February 17, 2022
Correspondent

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday maintained that Naga struggle has not failed totally as the Government of India has recognized the uniqueness of Naga history

He said people should “not think that Naga movement is a total failure, but is a partial success.” Rio stated this while kicking off the campaign for NPF candidates for the Manipur assembly elections at Senapati Wednesday.
He noted that it was crucial to collectively accept settlement, as it would create more opportunities and also avenues for the youth, adding that no other state in India has been given such privilege and protection like Nagaland.

Rio also urged Nagas to unite as solution would also pave the way for increase in number of Assembly and Parliamentary seats, among others.
He said presently, there was no justice in representation as Nagas ought to get more seats so that their voices were heard in Parliament. He said NPF party has been standing for the peo-ple and for resolution of the protracted Naga political issue as Nagas could not continue with fighting.

Rio lamented that despite signing of the Framework Agreement with NSCN (I-M) and Agreed Position with seven NNPGs, the final agreement has not been reached. He said the unresolved Naga political issue had only led to birth of more factions.

He said society today was divided with so many groups and organisations, besides multiple taxation. Rio therefore warned that if people did not speak out loud and clear, society will have no future.

On Oting-Mon incidents on December 4 and 5, 2021, the chief minister mentioned that be-cause of the imposition of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), 14 innocent civilians were killed and which had led to hue and cry for repeal of AFSPA. He said Nagaland government had been appealing to the Centre to withdraw the draconian law and that Nagaland Legislative Assembly too had passed a resolution calling for its repeal.

Rio recalled a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah who had promised to repeal the Act after a committee was set up. He said Nagaland wanted to break free from AFSPA, but added that if insurgency activities continued and the State government was unable to contain it, the Act could be re-imposed.

He said the participation of Naga people from 10 constituencies in Manipur Legislative Assembly had become vital and appealed to people to vote NPF candidates and give them a thumping majority, keeping in mind the Naga political issue. He recalled that launching NPF in Manipur several years ago, was not easy. He said there was huge resistance from then chief minister Ibobi Singh and that even then Congress Union home minister P Chidambaram had warned him (Rio) against it.

Rio said things had improved tremendously after BJP government under Biren Singh came to power and also improvement in overall law and order situation in Manipur. He said both Nagaland and Manipur as neighbours could work side by side in the process of nation building.

Zeliang calls for unity for Naga solution: Addressing the rally, UDA chairman and NPF Legislature Party leader TR Zeliang said the Indo-Naga peace talks were at a crucial juncture and on the verge of a final breakthrough, while noting that the patience of Nagas was running out amidst new social and political occurrences taking shape.

He urged the Nagas not to be distracted but stand together as a single entity for the logical conclusion of the Indo-Naga political issue.

He claimed that NPF was playing an important role as an active facilitator by vigorously pur-suing with the Centre for an early settlement, adding that the party was serious about its solution.

He requested the Nagas of Manipur to support and vote for NPF candidates if they desired a peaceful solution and move ahead with progress and development.

Recollecting the circumstances under which NPF was launched in Manipur during the Congress regime in Manipur under the leadership of Ibobi Singh in 2012 when they were not al-lowed to enter the State, Zeliang said the situation was completely different now as N Biren Singh was friendly with all tribal people.

He assured that NPF would continue to stand by its motto of solution through peaceful dia-logue and not by armed conflict and pledged to represent Nagas of Manipur without any fear in the State Assembly and in other platforms.

Zeliang said the party did not shy away from crucial issues threatening people’s existence like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and AFSPA, while appealing to the Nagas in Manipur to take it forward by sending its 10 candidates to Manipur Legislative Assembly

He wished the 10 NPF candidate success, while complimenting party’s election committee members under the chairmanship of Dr Lorho S Pfoze, Lok Sabha member, for choosing the candidates.

Zeliang remarked that it was because of sacrifices and unstinted public support that NPF continued to be one of the longest surviving regional parties in the Northeast and the second old-est regional party in the country.

He also appreciated chief minister Neiphiu Rio for lending his support to NPF by being pre-sent at the election rally on the invitation of the party.
In his speech, NPF Manipur unit president Awangbou Newmai said the principle of NPF was promoting peace in true sense, stressing that it meant understanding one another and giving due share to every community.

Mentioning that Manipur had witnessed peace in the last five years, he claimed that the agenda of NPF was to sustain the peace. He also commented that a solution to Naga political issue would not only benefit the Nagas, but the entire people of the country.

Addressing the gathering, NPF secretary general Achumbemo Kikon acknowledged that NPF had to carry out an intensive exercise to identify candidates as there were 40 applicants seeking tickets. He said after thorough deliberation and screening, the selection committee identified 10 candidates for Naga-dominated areas.

Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) Manipur declared on the occasion not to field any candidate and extend unconditional support to the NPF candidates.

Ministers– G Kaito Aye and Yollow Konyak, NDPP advisers and NPF MLAs and host of party workers and public attended the rally.

Rio justifies campaigning in Manipur for NPF: Justifying his campaigning in Manipur for NPF candidates, Rio said since NDPP and BJP were in an alliance in Nagaland, while BJP and NPF were allies in Manipur and with the formation of UDA government in Nagaland, there was no restriction in him campaigning.

Further, considering that NDPP, BJP and NPF were members of North East Democratic Alli-ance, Rio said he was present to show solidarity and convey best wishes to the candidates as the Manipur Assembly elections meant a lot to the regional party and for Naga cause.

Naga identity recognised with entry of NPF in Manipur, says Huska: NPF working president Huska Yepthomi said recognition of Naga identity and its significance had been further strengthened following NPF’s entry in Manipur.

He assured that NPF would stand firm on the protection of Naga identity and culture and urged the Nagas to vote for the party, reminding them that it had played a key role in bring-ing peace and tranquillity to Manipur.
Taking a dig at the Congress, Huska said there was no longer a Congress party but an “MSD (mother-son-daughter) party”, adding that veteran Congress leaders were all side-lined and powers were concentrated with MSD.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Parliament recently praising Chinese government by claiming that he knew the plan of China and mocking the Centre, he said when the people in mainland India did not want to talk about Congress, why should the Nagas.

He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised settling Naga political issue within 18 months after assuming office, but lamented that more than five years had elapsed and nothing happened.

He also accused Modi of speaking lies, while alleging that many churches were destroyed, thousands of Christian families rendered homeless and Santa Claus burnt down in Agra even as December 25 was declared Good Governance Day and Central exams conducted on Sun-days, all of which were disrespect to Nagas.

Source: https://www.nagalandpost.com/index.php/rio-campaigns-for-npf-in-manipur/

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