Nagaland: ‘Invite all old friends to come back home again’

Dr Shurhozelie delivers last presidential address to NPF convention

Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 22

Naga People’s Front (NPF) outgoing president Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu in his last presidential address today at the general convention of the NPF-cum-61st Foundation Day 2023 in Kohima, has invited “all our old friends to come back home again if they want to regain their rightful place in the society and in the party.”

“There should not be any hesitation because one’s future is much more important than facing temporary embarrassment once,” he said in his presidential address at the NPF convention in Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima.

He told the convention that “I am born to this party and I am a life member of this party. Whether I remain holding a post or not, it makes no difference for me as long as there are people seeking my advice and my cooperation.”

Admitting that he had displeased many people during his tenure, he said “but the actions which I have taken were all on the recommendation of a constitutionally constituted competent body who puts up its recommendations to me for final issue of order.”

He said that the Committee always take their own course of action to verify first whether the complaints received by the party were true or not. Only after ascertaining the fact of breach of the constitutional provision by a member, they proposed actions to be taken on him/her.

“I have expelled few, I have suspended many from the party during my time not on any ground of grudge but purely on party policy and principle. Whatever may be the case, I beg due apology for displeasing many of my old friends,” he said.

‘NPF represents identity, aspiration of Naga people’
Dr Liezietsu said that the nomenclature of “our party changed a number of times in the past as per the need of contemporary situations but the nomenclature ‘Cock Party’ remains the same and more common and popular particularly in rural areas for all these years till today.”

“Today, we are the proud heirs of that political party set up by our elders whose integrity had withstood the test of time. Let us not forget that this ‘Cock party’ came into being in the midst of blood and tears. This party was formed with a purpose and a strong commitment to pave the way for upholding the right of the Naga people through democratic process,” Dr Liezietsu said.

 Today, he said, without hesitation, “we reiterate our stand to the people of Nagaland that NPF is the only regional party today representing the identity and the aspiration of the Naga people.”

Dr Liezietsu said that NPF represent the Nagas broadly in all respect “because this party is deeply rooted in the Naga society and in the unique history of the Naga people.”

“Our commitment is to protect, preserve and promote the socio-political identity, our rights and privileges as a unique people.

 We will continue to uphold this commitment which, we believe, no power on earth can destroy it,” he said. “We know that the Naga people are with us at the grass root level. Therefore, NPF will remain as the Northern Star under any circumstances. And, therefore, we will continue to strive to play our role as active facilitators for an early political solution of the Indo-Naga political problem,” he said. We stand for a political settlement which is acceptable, honourable and inclusive, Dr Liezietsu declared.

On NPF MLAs in Nagaland, Manipur assembly
On two NPF MLAs representing the Party in the 14th House of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, he said that the two members (Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu and Achumbemo Kikon) have been playing the key role in the Assembly representing the sentiment of the Naga people in general. Congratulating NPF party in Manipur state, he said “The party functionaries as well as our five honourable Members and our MP (2 Ministers, 3 MLAs and 1 MP) have been doing very well for the last nearly two years.”

Also stating that NPF unit in Arunachal Pradesh is yet to open its account in Arunachal Pradesh state assembly, he said “We look forward that we will be able to occupy a place there soon.”

‘Let us learn from our past mistakes’
Dr Liezietsu called upon the party leaders and workers to learn from the past mistake. “Let us learn from our past mistakes,” he said. He said that the story of NPF in Nagaland in the last tenure of Assembly was not very pleasant. In 2018 General Election, NPF won 26 in a 60-Member House, short of five only to reach the magic figure. “Yet we failed to manoeuvre the situation which gave opportunity to others to come together and formed the Government,” he said.

For a long time, we were not aware of the presence of wolves in sheep’ skin in our midst till the cat was out of the bag finally, he said.

Out of 25 MLAs, 21 of them defected at the last moment leaving no chance to the party to reorganise itself in 9 months time. “They have done this betrayal game with careful calculation. But there was no roses all the way for the defectors also,” he said.

Out of 21 MLAs, 14 of them were axed by their masters by denying them of the ticket, the aspiration for which they have risked their career. Out of 7 who took the NDPP ticket, four faced defeat again in the election and only three of them survived. Two out of the rest 14 chose other political parties and won due to their sheer luck, he said.

Quoting Bible “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand,” he said “I believe this is what had happened to us. For future reference let us keep in mind that enemy within is worst than enemy outside.”

On present system of election
Dr Liezietsu placed a question to Naga people in general, ‘Can the Naga people survive to uphold our pride as in the past with the present system of election?’

“We have seen in the last election in Nagaland which was more like a gambling bout where money decides the fate of the people. If the present trend continues, only the rich people or their proxy leaders will represent the Nagas in the Assembly. All rich people are not wise men. Will it be proper to represent the people in the highest policy making body by the rich people only,” he said.

At this rate, he said, human values and virtues have lost its credibility and life has lost its charms with no future. He said that the present system of governing is reducing the Naga saga into money politics.

Further, Dr Liezietsu said that the state economy is on the diminishing return. As a result, prices of essential commodities are soaring higher and higher at short intervals. The country is talking much about her economic advancement but the fact is the value of rupee falling further and further every day. One wonders how a common man without having any regular source of earning will survive to live in the society, he said. 

He said that few individuals prosper beyond measures without the sweat of their brows whereas the common people, on the contrary, worry for their belly. “Can we believe our people to live together in this manner in harmony? History repeats itself as the saying goes and we have seen in the past that economic strangulation by those that be in power is not the end by itself, he said.