Support to Rio-led govt based on Naga political issue: NPF

March 19, 2023 24 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 19

MLA and Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislature Party leader Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu today emphasized that the NPF is supporting the newly formed government led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio solely on the basis of their stance on the Naga political issue.

“Since NPF championed the Naga political issue, and for that reason, we have extended our support to the government. But, yet, we have not received reply whether they have accepted or rejected. We are yet to receive a reply,” Azo said while addressing a press conference here today after a felicitation programme organized by the party for its two elected legislators.

This time round, he said, the NPF thought of taking up the Naga political issue in the right earnest, adding “We want to seriously push the Naga political issue forward and bring to logical conclusion.”

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s speeches on February 24 and 21 respectively, that they will solve the Naga political problem, Azo said “So, it is high time Amit Shah and Modi also walk the talk.”

“It is high time, we, legislators show our political will and if there is political will, we can do it. So we can wind up within a year’s time,” Azo said.

‘Question of merger does not arise’
MLA Achumbemo Kikon, Chief Whip of NPF Legislature Party substantiated that NPF have already dispatched the letter of support to Rio only on the issue of Naga political issue “because that was one of the principles we maintained in the last government.”

“We supported on the basis of Naga political issue,” he said.

“Therefore, if the letter of support that we have submitted, if they (Government) don’t want to reciprocate, well, we are left with no other choice but to take another step,” Kikon said.

On being asked whether the NPF legislators are planning to merge with any other political parties, Kikon said “The question of merger does not arise.”

NPF not to put up questions in assembly session
On being asked whether the NPF legislators will be putting up any question in the coming state assembly session, starting from March 20, Azo categorically said “We are not putting up any question.”

This is the first session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly. There is no time to put any question, he said adding that for putting up questions, one has to submit within 10 days ahead and that too BAC will have to approve it.

“Since there was no time, nobody can put question in the 1st assembly and we are not putting any questions,” he said.

On the other hand, he said, in the next assembly only, whether we are in government or not, we will be putting up questions and we will be speaking the rights of the Nagas.