Mahanta, Zoramthanga, Rio to lead campaign for NERPF
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, February 12 2014: Former Assam chief minister Prafullo Kumar Mahanta, former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga and Nagaland chief minbister Neiphiu Rio are going to be the star-campaigners of the North East Regional Parties Front (NERPF) .

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Naga People's Front (NPF), United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People's Democratic Party of Meghalaya (HSPDPM), the Manipur People's Party (MPP), Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), Manipur Democratic People's Front (MDPF), Mizo National Front (MNF), People's Party of Arunachal (PPA)and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) are the ten political parties that have formed the NERPF on October 20 last year in Guwahati.

Sources said that by next month the NERPF will be in full gear with the star-campaigners hopping around the north eastern states to woo the voters.

Safeguarding of cultural, social, political and economic rights of the people of the region and to continuously strive to protect the distinctive identifies of the ethnic tribes and of all the people of the region are some of the objectives of the NERPF.

Other important resolutions adopted on October 20 are that all illegal migrants from Northeast region be deported, reservation of 80 per cent jobs for locals in government and private sectors, implementation of the look east policy, rebuilding a portion of the historic Stillwell road, a rethink on AFSPA and similar issues reflecting the local sentiments.

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio is the convenor of the front while former Assam chief minister and leader of AGP Prafulla Mahanta is the chief advisor.

It is worth noting here that last month, President of India Pranab Mukherjee was apprised by the North East Regional Parties Front (NERPF) to address the political problems of the region and bring about permanent solution to the decades old political problems that have resulted in insurgencies.

The NERPF delegation had also apprised the same to Union Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and BJP president Rajnath Singh.

A memorandum consisting of a 17 points resolution was submitted to the President, the Union Home Minister and the BJP president.

The Convenor of the NERPF highlighted the contents of the resolutions and urged upon the Government of India to seriously address the issues in the greater interest of the country and the people of the north eastern region in particular.

Some of the key issues that were brought to the notice of the Central Government included the continuous influx of illegal immigrants into the region and lamented the lack of effective steps on the part of the Government of India.

The NERPF also called for the immediate cancellation land swap deal by the Central Government with Bangladesh and the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The front had expressed concern on Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and objected to the random manner in which massive dams are being constructed in the upper reaches of the Bramaputra in China which has the potential to adversely impact the entire region in multiple ways including possibility of natural disasters.

Serious concern on the safety and security of the north eastern people especially students, professionals and working women in the urban cities especially in the national capital region were brought to the notice of the Centre.

The NERPF had also urged the Central leaders to address the political problems of the North East region and bring about permanent solution to the decades old political problems that have resulted in insurgencies.

The NERPF delegation also urged New Delhi to take the people of the region into confidence and offered all cooperation to play the role of facilitators to bring about peace in the region.

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