'Future of the Naga people is bleak' : NPF

16 June 2018, Kohima :

The Naga People’s Front is not at all interested nor seeking cheap publicity through media but ridiculed the NDPP statement defending its master Neiphiu Rio, the incumbent Chief Minister of the state by diverting the pertinent issues concerning the Nagas into cheap publicity game.

The NPF, being the parent regionalist political party of the state is only concern for the destiny of the Naga people unlike the yesterday-born political party NDPP where a bunch of political opportunist gathered and called themselves as NDPP. We are certain that, the leaders in the NDPP will shift their loyalty anytime and will be no more in the political map of Nagaland tomorrow.

The NPF wonders as to how the NDPP is trying to defend the instant issue where Rio on 12 June 2018 has clearly declared in New Delhi to the Media that Naga integration is not possible and PDA government will not oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016.

The NPF is not concerned under what obligation or compulsion Rio have bowed down to such stand for the future of the Naga people but the NPF, which represent the identity of the Naga people will continue to fight for the rights of the Naga people. So long the Nagaland is ruled by Rio and NDPP party, the future of the Naga people is at bleak.

The Chief Minister had announced that the Article 371 (A) is good enough status to protect the Nagas and therefore, the PDA government will not oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016. Therefore, the NPF would like to ask the Chief Minister to point out under which Clause of the Article 371 (A) is Nagaland protected from the Citizenship Bill. How far the Naga people is protected for the last 55 years under the Article from illegal immigrants at Dimapur and adjoining areas.

And whether the cabinet had gone through the contents of the proposed Bill. Unless the contents of the proposed Bill were discussed in the Cabinet, how can a Chief Minister manipulate and try to back track with fabricated language to convince the public.

The NPF demanded the Chief Minister himself to come out clearly as to why he opposes the integration of the Naga people and also support the Citizenship Bill and invite the influx of the illegal migrants into the Naga soil to swallow the Nagas and turning Nagaland into another Tripura state where the tribal is minority at present.

Regarding the two above pertinent issues, the NPF feels that the Nagas NGOs and Civil societies should also raise their opinion either negative/positive as the party believed that it is the collective effort that can protect and defend the destiny of the future of the Naga people.

The NPF would like to remind the NDPP that during the last 15 years of NPF government had passed resolutions in the Assembly in support of the Naga integration and in which Rio was made Chief Minister for three consecutive terms. Although, it was during Rio Chief Ministership in the NPF Government that passed the resolution on Naga integration, the resolution was not passed under the capacity of Chief Minister but the stand of the NPF party Governments.

The NPF would like to educate the NDPP that the constitution of the NPF party under the Article II Clause-C clearly stated that “to work for unity and integrity of the Naga people by integrating all contiguous Naga inhabited areas under one administrative roof and also to provide protection to all the ethnic groups who are indigenous inhabitants of all Naga inhabited areas”.

The NPF would also like to point out that during the short duration of Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu as Chief Minister of the NPF Government has paid a maiden visit to its counterpart Manipur state and met the present Chief Minister Biren Singh and discuss various issues concerning the Nagas. These were the living proof that NPF walks the talk unlike the NDPP who keep on giving false promises to the people.

Regarding the peace process, the NPF recollect that Rio after vacating his Chief Minister seat and left for Delhi, the NPF Government has indeed accelerated the peace process by taking a giant step and constitute “Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs Mission” and started working on mission mode by appointing G. Kaito as Minister of Political Affairs Mission.

The Naga political solution being one of the top most priority of the NPF party has restrained itself from filing any nominations in the last Assembly election by acknowledging the call given by the Naga Civil Societies seeking solution before election and for that the Centre has termed TR. Zeliang as anti-National for not willing to participate in the election.

However, the NDPP immediately entered into seat sharing with the BJP for the BJP is all out for the election with their slogan as “election for solution”.

The NPF also lambasted the NDPP statement that the NPF have endorsed the booklet of the NPCC by dragging the name of NPF leaders, C Apok and SI Jamir. The NPF would like to remind the NDPP that any person/persons be it from any political parties joins the NPF party and subscribe by the constitution of the party and adhere to the party aims and objectives is an active NPF members. Therefore, the allegation of the NDPP does not hold any water.

The NPF also wonders as to why the NDPP bring up the educational qualification of the leader of the opposition again and again in the media which is a childish game as the matter has already been settled in the Supreme Court of India as it was challenge in the court of law by none other than Rio’s man.

Taking all the NDPP statements into account, the bottom line is that the NDPP have nothing to write and have lost their arguments and it all indicates that they are feeling insecure as the PDA Government may fall any moment by their own weight and contradiction.

Press Bureau,
Naga people’s Front,
Central Headquarter,
Kohima, Nagaland.