Naga People’s Front kicks off campaign for Manipur polls; Zeliang says the party is prepared to face any obstacle

‘NPF is not only a political party but a people’s movement towards solution for permanent peace in our land’

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Feb. 16 (EMN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislature party leader TR Zeliang on Wednesday expressed confidence that the Naga political issue would be resolved sooner rather than later, and the solution would be one that is ‘inclusive, honourable and acceptable’ as aspired by the Naga people.

He was addressing the NPF’s campaign kick-off programme for the upcoming Manipur Assembly elections at Senapati district headquarters on Wednesday.

Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio was also present at the event.

Zeliang, who is also the chairman of United Democratic Alliance in Nagaland, stated that NPF is the ‘only party’ serious about Naga political issue, and truly stands for Naga political solution through peaceful dialogues to bring lasting peace. He maintained that it is not only a political party ‘but a people’s movement towards solution for permanent peace in our land and the Northeast region in general’.

“We are at a crucial juncture when the Indo-Naga peace talks are on the verge of a final breakthrough, and I understand that patience is running out and that new social and political occurrences are taking shape in our society rapidly. However, let us not be distracted but invest our time and energy on to the logical conclusion of the Indo-Naga political issue,” he said.

Narrating the December 17, 2017 event, wherein they ‘convinced the BJP MLAs’ and passed a resolution in Nagaland Assembly to hold elections only after the solution, he lamented missing the ‘golden opportunity’.

“Prior to the adoption of this historic assembly resolution, all the apex civil societies along with 11 political parties in the state had signed the resolution at Hotel Japfu not to file nomination in the last 2018 election till the final inking of a peace Accord.

“However, on the same evening, the then National General Secretary of the BJP Party, Ram Madhav, in-charge of Northeast and Nagaland, suspended the BJP signatories from the BJP party and announced ‘election for solution.’ This back-stabbed the Naga people and took us into an unknown destination and today, we are going to face, perhaps, another election for solution, and if such historic agreement was not abrogated by the BJP party then, Naga political solution might have been concluded in 2018,” he asserted.

While congratulating the 10 NPF candidates contesting in Manipur elections, he reiterated that the party was formed specifically for the welfare of the Naga people by like-minded Naga leaders under the leadership of A Kevichusa on October 21, 1963 when the then interim government, which was in place following the signing of 16-Point Agreement in July 1960, tried to hijack the first general election in Nagaland by undemocratic means.

Zeliang also lauded veteran politicians Francis Ngajokpa from Tadubi AC and D Korungthang Maring from Tengnoupal AC, who resigned from Indian National Congress and BJP respectively and joined the NPF.

He further asserted that as the party gears up to face the upcoming Manipur General Election 2022, the ‘NPF as a political party is prepared and ready to face any obstacle, come what may’. He claimed that the party would continue to stand by its motto ‘Solution through peaceful dialogue and not by armed conflict’.

Zeliang also said that it is difficult to work for the welfare of people when one is representing a national party which is centrally-based, “as those MLAs belonging to national parties are bound by the so-called ‘high command’ from New Delhi who have no knowledge of the ground realities here”.

He stated that the NPF, while working for the cause of the Naga people, has not ‘shied away from crucial issues threatening the existence of our people such as the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAA) and the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act (AFSPA)’.

He also appealed to the citizens in the 10 constituencies where NPF candidates are contesting to support its candidates.

It may be mentioned that the NPF has fielded the following candidates for the Manipur polls: Langhu Paulhring Anal from 41 Chandel A/C; Dangsawa Korungthang Maring from 42 Tengnoupal A/C; Leishiyo Keishing from 43 Phunuar A/C; Ram Muivah from 44 Ukhrul A/C; Khashim Vashum from 45 Chingai A/C; Khoho Siile Anthony from 47 Karong A/C; Losii Dikho from 48 Mao A/C; M Francis Ngajokpa from 49 Tadubi A/C; Awangbow Newmai from 52 Tamei A/C; and Khangthuanang Panmei from 53 Tamenglong A/C.