Ready to go to jail: Neiphiu Rio
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, February 11 2013: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio today said that he is willing to go to jail for the sake of the Naga people and that he will continue to carry the voice of the Naga people.

He said that there is nothing wrong in voicing the suffering of his people and the denial of rights to the Nagas.

Today's comment of Neiphiu Rio has come after the Manipur cabinet had condemned and decided to lodge a complaint on the recent statement of the Nagaland chief minister to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Noted Advocate of Manipur Khaidem Mani had said Neiphiu Rio could be booked under the law of the land.

They were reacting to the recent statement of Neiphiu Rio where the Nagaland chief minister had said that Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh is one of the biggest enemies of the Nagas.

Neiphiu Rio had also stated that Ibobi Singh is responsible for the suppression of Nagas.

"I am speaking the right of the Naga people and for that why should anybody threaten to jail me.

If I am to go to jail for the sake of my people, so be it", Neiphiu Rio said today during campaigns at Longleng, Kiphire and Pfutsero.

"I shall speak the right of the Naga people and I am ready to go to jail for that," he stated.

Rio asserted that the Naga People's Front (NPF) has stood up for the rights of the Nagas and the party leadership has voiced the plight of the Nagas, especially those in Myanmar.

Speaking at NPF election rallies at Longleng, Kiphire and Pfutsero under Phek district, the Chief Minister said that the Nagas of Myanmar have achieved political recognition with the establishment of the Naga Autonomous Zone.

The Nagas of Myanmar have their own elected members and the Nagas are also well represented in the Myanmar Parliament, Rio said.

Rio informed that likewise the NPF has also entered the poll fray in Manipur and will do so in other Naga inhabited areas of neighbouring states.

The NPF is providing a political platform to Nagas and we are moving towards emotional and political integration, the Chief Minister said.

The chief minister also appreciated the initiative of the NBCC for the clean election campaign.

We support the NBCC's campaign and welcome the steps being taken by the church, the chief minister said.

The chief minister addressed NPF rallies at Longleng town, Kiphire town and Pfutsero under Phek district today.

At Kiphire, the NPF rally was disturbed by Congress workers who had come in a long convoy of two wheelers and other vehicles honking and shouting slogans in order to disrupt the rally when the chief minister was addressing the gathering.

He regretted that the Congress was using such negative tactics to disrupt the meetings of the NPF, however he advised the general public not to disrupt each other's meetings and allow all political parties to hold their meetings without disturbance from the rival parties.

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