Nephiu Rio adds dash to election campaign trail of NPF
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 19, 2012: Giving a significant thrust to the campaign for NPF candidates contesting in the Manipur Legislative Assembly election, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio visited Tamenglong district headquarters and Noney (Longmai) today and personally reached out to the voters.

Speaking at an election meeting at Noney, Neiphiu remarked that for the allegedly subdued and marginalised Nagas, the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election is not another election but a referendum.

Stating that the NPF was set up with the basic objective of resolving the Naga issue, Neiphiu reiterated that the fundamental goal of the NPF is to bring all Nagas scattered in different States and countries under a single administrative umbrella.

The Government of India has already recognised the Naga issue, and the NPF has been working to raise the Naga issue on international platforms.

The Naga issue has been clearly spelt out on international fora.

All the Nagas scattered in different parts of the family are brothers and they have the same political objective, Neiphiu Rio stated.

Stating that Nagas in Manipur have been living in a precarious situation, the Nagaland Chief Minister alleged that 89 per cent of the development funds sanctioned for development programmes have been utilised in Manipur valley.

Nagaland CM Nephiu Rio air dashing on a helicopter to Manipur for campaigning for NPF

Accusing the Government of Manipur of paying little attention to the complaints of the Nagas, Rio asserted that the prevailing circumstances demand the Nagas to support the NPF for determining their collective future destiny.

Any one who do not support NPF is anti-Naga because the NPF was established for the cause of Naga people in the first place.

Stating that impacts of the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue would be certainly reflected in the results of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections, Neiphiu Rio claimed that UPA Government at the Centre is being supported by one NPF MP.

NPF has no ill-feeling towards the UPA Government but it certainly has many differences and contradictions with the Ibobi-led Congress Government.

As such, people are fully aware about who is responsible for the prolonged subjugation of Naga people, he asserted.

Talking about the political situation unfolding in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, the Nagaland Chief Minister maintained that the Nagas need not fear Congress party.

He also asserted that NPF would certainly form a component of the Government that would be formed after the Assembly election.

He claimed that NPF has been working with like-minded political parties under a clear-cut understanding so as to ensure that NPF is not left out of the next coalition Government.

Later, when media persons enquired about the political parties with which NPF may form a coalition Government, Neiphiu refused to name the political parties.

On being asked about Manipur Government's objection to his visit to Senapati for opening NPF Manipur unit and its apprehension about possible threat to the integrity of Manipur, the Nagaland Chief Minister clarified that the question of Naga integration was endorsed by the Nagaland State Assembly and resolutions were adopted towards the same end repeatedly.

The NPF would strive for the same goal.

Neiphiu Rio was accompanied by Nagaland Planning and Animal Husbandry Ministry TR Zeliang and other high-ranking office bearers of the party.