Rio resigns as NERPF convenor, but resignation yet to be accepted
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, July 16 2014:
Former Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and incumbent Lok Sabha MP from the State resigned as the convenor of North East Regional Parties Front (NERPF) but the Forum is yet to accept his resignation.
Discussion on the matter by the NERPF constituents will be held 'very soon' on the development.
This was disclosed to Newmai News Network this evening by Atul Bora, the co-covenor of NERPF and also the leader of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) .
Atul Bora said that the meeting is likely to be held in Guwahati in the next few days time to discuss the matter.
Mr Bora however, on behalf of the NERPF expressed gratitude to Neiphiu Rio for his effort and service rendered to the North East region through the NERPF.
Neiphiu Rio resigned as the convenor of the NERPF citing instances such as the failure of the AGP-BJP alliance materialisation in Assam and one NERPF unit People's Party of Arunachal Pradesh voting against the NDA in the Rajya Sabha polls.
He said such moves from the NERPF units contradicted the Front's stand.
It can be recalled here that Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Naga People's Front (NPF), United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People's Democratic Party of Meghalaya (HSPDPM), the Manipur People's Party (MPP), Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), Manipur Democratic People's Front (MDPF), Mizo National Front (MNF(, People's Party of Arunachal (PPA)and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) are the ten political parties that have formed the NERPF on October 20 last year in Guwahati.
It is worthwhile to note here that safeguarding of cultural, social, political and economic rights of the people of the region and to continuously strive to protect the distinctive identifies of the ethnic tribes and of all the people of the region are some of the objectives of the NERPF.
Other important agendas of NERPF are deportation of all illegal migrants from Northeast region, reservation of 80 per cent jobs for locals in government and private sectors, implementation of the Look East Policy, rebuilding a portion of the historic Stillwell road, a rethink on AFSPA and similar issues reflecting local sentiments.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio was elected as the convenor of the front while former Assam chief minister and leader of AGP Prafulla Mahanta was elected as the chief advisor when it was floated.