NPF bats for a platform of minorities
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 20 2019: The Naga People's Front (NPF) has warned that minority communities of the entire region would face a grim situation in future if there is no platform through which the minority communities can articulate their grievances and aspirations without any restriction or inhibition.

Speaking to media persons today after Dr Lorho Mao was announced as NPF candidate in Outer Manipur PC, the party's State unit president Awangbow Newmai pointed out that no leader of big political parties think or care about the indigenous people of the region and this was testified by their vigorous push for Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) 2016.To follow or comply with the directives party's high command is a political ethic but minority communities would be wiped out eventually unable to counter the grave threats posed by bigger communities if there isn't a platform through which indigenous communities can raise their voice, Awangbow said.

He went on to claim that NPF is a platform through which minority communities, weaker sections and indigenous people can raise their voice and articulate their aspirations.

Most political parties engage in mudslinging at the time of election without ever bothering about the collective wishes of the people.

However, NPF would march ahead and take forward all the major issues and problems of the masses, Awangbow said.

Peace is one crucial element for NPF to march ahead and take forward the interest of the people of Manipur, he asserted.

Many laws and Acts are being enforced which do not treat the people of North East as humans.

CrPC 144 is imposed round the year in Manipur.

With the disturbed area status becoming a permanent feature, AFSPA continues to haunt the collective psyche of the masses.

People have been protesting all these draconian Acts and excesses but people's protest is not enough.

It needs an autonomous political platform, Awangbow said.

There are four NPF MLAs in the Manipur Legislative Assembly and one of them is a Minister.

As people's representatives and law makers, they have been working on how to bring lasting peace in the State, he said.

There must be peace, harmony and uniform development among all the communities which have been living together in the State.

Peace will remain elusive as long as there is no uniform development, and when there is no peace, development will remain a far cry, Awangbow continued.

Dr Lorho Mao said that he decided to contest the Lok Sabha election with the primary objective of restoring love and mutual respect among the indigenous communities which seem to have disappeared over the years.

Although there was deep distrust among different communities at one point of time, it appears that the distrust has been minimised considerably during the past few years.

Sometime back, NPF was seen as a political party establish to disintegrate Manipur but the picture has changed.

Now people see NPF as a party which would bring peace in the State, Dr Lorho said.

He said that NPF was not set up to disintegrate Manipur but it was set up to bring peace and harmony in the State.

A new age has dawned on the horizon of Manipur and it is time for all the communities to walk hand in hand.

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