Ibobi one of the biggest enemies of the Nagas : Rio
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, February 06 2013: Nagaland Chief Minister and NPF leader Neiphiu Rio, today asserted that the Naga People's Front (NPF) is a regional party that stands for the protection and preservation of Naga culture and heritage and added that the Chief Minister of Manipur is one of the biggest enemies of the Naga people.

Speaking at the Zunheboto district NPF election rally, Rio said that the Rooster party is also one of the oldest and most respected regional parties in the entire region.

Neiphiu Rio also charged that senior Congress leaders of Nagaland had rushed all the way to Imphal by road secretly to meet the Chief Minister of Manipur to seek his blessings and advise for the elections in Nagaland.

Rio observed that the Manipur Chief Minister was one of the biggest enemies of the Naga people and that he is responsible for the suppression of Nagas.

He termed the Congress leaders' visit to Imphal as a betrayal of the Nagas and reiterated that the Congress leaders of Nagaland are not genuine leaders of the Nagas but were only agents of outsiders and representatives of the adversaries of the Naga people.

Naga Peoples Front

Highlighting the institution of the State symbol with Mithun as the logo, the Chief Minister said that such decisions are significant symbols of 'our people standing tall with our own dignified identity' .

The State logo of Mithun has the word unity and it signifies that the NPF stands for the unity of all sections of the people, the CM said.

Dwelling on the Congress booklet listing the State Government's failures, Rio said that the Congress was bereft of any vision and was only concerned with false allegations.

Senior Minister in the Rio cabinet, Kaito, who spoke on behalf of all the six officials NPF candidates called upon all to be united.

He stated that with unity and oneness, Nagaland can make more progress.

The official NPF candidates of Zunheboto district namely, Doshehe Y Sema, Nihoshe, Shetoi, Pukhai and Kakheto Kinimi were present in the rally.

Others who were also present were included NPF working president Huska, NPF Youth Wing President Kakuto Shohe and a host of other political and social leaders.

Later in the evening the chief minister addressed another election rally at Jakhama village under Southern Angami I assembly constituency.

Reiterating his stand that the NPF stands for preservation and protection of Naga identity, Rio said that only a regional party can carry the true voice of the Naga people.

We carry the voice and sedire of the Nagas, he said adding that today thanks to the NPF, the Naga voice is being heard in the Manipur assembly and both Houses of Parliament.

Sitting MLA and NPF candidate from the constituency Vikho-o Yhoshu also addressed the gathering.

Vikho-o recalled the positive contributions of prominent citizens of Jakhama village and asserted that the sons of Jakhama have made significant contributions for Naga society.

Meanwhile, senior politicians and resigned veteran Congress leader Chingwang Konyak today said that there is no future in the Nagaland Congress in the present political scenario.

He regretted that leaders like Jasokie, Chiten Jamir, Hokishe and himself had build up the Congress in Nagaland but "today the Congress in Nagaland is not like what it was", he said.

Addressing an NPF election rally at Zunheboto town, the veteran politician said that the divided house of the Congress is only giving lip service and their claims of unity is not true.

�n their heart of hearts, they know that they are not united, he said.

Chiungwang recalled late N.I Jamir, who was a former chief secretary and former minister in Congress governments, was a towering leader in Nagaland adding that his son Alemtemsu Jamir is the present chief secretary and special secretary to former chief minister S.C.Jamir for several years.

Chingwang highlighted that N.I Jamir's grandson and Alemtemsu's son is today contesting the forthcoming elections from Mongoya constituency of Mokokchung district on an NPF ticket.

Konyak said that this means that there is no hope in the Congress anymore.

"We have lost faith in the Congress", he stated.

He also replied to S.C.Jamir's claim that only the Congress can solve the Naga political problem, questioning the former CM, "why did he not solve the problem when he was chief minister for so many years"? Jamir's statement is only election propaganda, there is no truth in it, Chingwang said.

He appreciated the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio saying that Rio is working with vision and that the future generations have hope in his leadership.