'NPF will remain as long as Nagas exist'
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Kohima, December 13 2013 : The Naga People's Front (NPF) celebrated its 50 years of existence as the oldest regional political party in the North East region paying homage and respect to the pioneers of the party at Kohima Local Ground here yesterday.

The NPF was formed on October 21, 1963 and christened Democratic Party of Nagaland (DPN) by a group of Naga leaders under the leadership of A Kevichusa.

The DPN changed its nomenclature to United Front of Nagaland, United Democratic Front, Nagaland People's Front and now Naga People's Front to continue as the 'cock' party and as the oldest regional party not only in Nagaland but the North East Region.

Delivering the key-note address before the over 10000 NPF workers from Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam here today, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said "as long as the Naga people exists the cock symbol party will never vanish" .

He said that NPF is the oldest regional party in the North East and the jubilee celebration should be taken as an occasion to look ahead to the future with new challenges for a better future.

Rio said that the challenges should not be mere on paper, but it should be backed up by carefully drawn up action plans to make the party a cadre-based and disciplined party, that can withstand the test of difficult times.

He said that the new generation of the party workers comprise of more educated and politically matured youth.

"We have great hopes and expectations that they will take forward the aspirations of the people and the party to greater heights," he said.

He said that during the past fifty years of Nagaland statehood, much progress and development has taken place in the state, especially in the social sectors, such as education and health, and also in agriculture.

The most significant achievement of the regional party government in the state is implementation of the policy of inclusiveness and grassroots participation in planning and implementation of government's projects.

Stating that Nagas been divided into four states within India - Assam, Arunachal, Manipur and Nagaland while a major chunk of the Nagas are in Myanmar, he asserted that NPF will continue to work towards the emotional, social, culture and political integration of the Naga people within and outside Nagaland.

"Nagas are less in number and if we do not unite Nagas will vanish," he said.

He also expressed that Nagas should work to send own leaders to parliament - one each from Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh 'so that our voices will be heard in the parliament' .

Comment