NPF is natural ally of BJP: Dr Shurhozelie

28 June 2017

consultative meeting with the NPF Arunachal Pradesh State Unit party workers on June 28 2017

Nagaland Chief Minister and NPF president, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu said that Naga People’s Front is “the natural ally of the BJP” and that it is the only political party which represents the Nagas and can preserve their identity. Recalling the association of the party which is the oldest in the Northeastern region with the BJP, he said the NPF has been aligned with the non-Congress national party as early as 1977 and that this alliance was renewed in early 2003 when the then Chairman of the NDA, George Fernandes, along with few other non-Congress parties in the State, formed the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland.

The Chief Minister also said that the NPF party should be introduced not only to all the Naga inhabited areas but to all tribal areas in the region stating that this will be the first step towards integrating the tribal peoples of the region. He said this during a consultative meeting with the NPF Arunachal Pradesh State Unit party workers here at NPF central office conference hall on Wednesday.

Addressing more than two hundred party workers from Arunachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister said that the demand for integration of the whole Naga-inhabited areas may be difficult at present but that coming together under the umbrella of the NPF could be the first step to integrate the people emotionally and politically. Citing an example, the Chief Minister said that after introducing the NPF party to Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the Naga people living in the two states can now feel a sense of belongingness as one Naga family.

Advising the party leaders to work hard, the Chief Minister said that the NPF must participate in the next Arunachal Pradesh government so as to address the developmental issues faced by the Naga people in the State. He urged the Arunachal Pradesh party leaders present today at the meeting to take the torch of leadership and spread the good news of the NPF party to their state that only through NPF the voice of the Naga people can be heard in the government.

In Manipur, the NPF has sent four MLAs in the government and now we got recognition in the Manipur Assembly. Therefore, the Chief Minister said that the Naga people of Arunachal must send their representative in the next formation of Arunachal government. He reminded the gathering today that in the event of the NPF party succeeding to gain entry in three Assemblies, the party would be recognised as a national party.

DAN Chairman and former Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, addressing the gathering today, said NPF party is the only platform which can speak and address the needs and aspirations of the Naga people. He said that other Naga regional party such as recently-launched Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been formed to confuse the Naga people, but it is only the NPF that recognized the whole of Naga-inhabited areas and work for the people.

TR Zeliang also stressed the need to learn the Nagamese language by fellow Nagas living outside Nagaland stating that it will the first step towards integrating our people. He expressed happiness that today’s meeting could be conducted through the medium of Nagamese and said language is a great factor which unifies people. He also urged upon the party leaders not to be afraid to reveal their identity as Nagas but to work tirelessly for the uplift of the party that one day they will harvest its fruits, as the NPF is the party that will work for the Naga people.

Education Minister, Yitachu in his speech said that the NPF is formed for the uplift of regional aspirations of the Naga people cutting across the present state boundary. Yitachu also said that the NPF is the heritage party for the Nagas and one of the priority of the party is to work for the whole Naga inhabited areas. Rural Development Minister, CL John in his short speech called upon the Arunachal Pradesh party leaders to have the ownership spirit of the party and must elect its representative in the next formation of the government in Arunachal Pradesh.

Advisor DUDA and ministerial in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh, N Thongwang who also spoke on the occasion said that though the Naga people live in separate states, NPF party is the only platform that can keep alive the identity of the Nagas. During the occasion, various leaders from the Arunachal Pradesh NPF state unit stated that they have joined the party to work for the betterment and uplift of the Naga people living in Arunachal Pradesh.

While assuring to work for the success of the party in their state, the leaders also asked the party functionaries from Nagaland to help and support in the coming days.

The programme was chaired by Apong Pongener, Advisor to Chief Minister and NPF working president and invocation prayer was said by Tsumongo Ovung, NPF vice president.As part of the celebration, prize distribution for pledge writing and painting competitions which were held earlier in different schools were distributed by the dignitaries today.