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Senapati, Oct. 15 (EMN): Sounding political bugle ahead of the upcoming Manipur Assembly Elections 2022, PHED minister, Losü Dikho stated that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) should be credited for providing political stability in Manipur on many occasions without conditions.
He was speaking at the get-together programme of village leaders and party workers of 48-Mao Assembly Constituency at Asufü, Mao on Oct. 14. The programme was attended by CSOs village council, women organisations and youth organisations of 48-Mao Assembly Constituency, wherein the NPF leader also said that the party will stand for tribal rights with special focus on border trades, tourism, education, sports and youth development and people-oriented projects, an update informed.
‘The NPF as a political party wants to bring peace in the land and don’t want any confrontation, violence or problem in the land. With direction from the central party, the Manipur state unit of the NPF has been moving ahead with prayers and the apex civil society organisations of the hill district have been extending support to the party till date. People of the region have had experiences of different sufferings and bloodshed, where the need to introduce such a political party emerged as a necessity. With support from the people, the party could achieve this far through God’s blessings’, he asserted.
The PHE minister stated that during the 2017 general election, NPF supported the BJP-led state government without any pre-conditioned demands for any post. The party trusted and provided the support to BJP and readily agreed to support the BJP in formation of the govt.
He said, ‘Different opposition members came and tempted them from the BJP-led govt. but the party stood in support of the BJP-led govt. till date. However, the state BJP has failed to acknowledge the NPF. The party appreciated Prime Minister Modi during his campaign in Imphal, where he asserted that he would take away bandhs and blockades in Manipur within 15 months if BJP is elected majority in the state. Through contribution from the NPF, the state could enjoy improved law and order, where peace prevails as appealed by the PM. Through the initiative of the PM to connect water tap to all households in the state, more than 50% works are completed by the PHED department’.
The minister called for improvement of connectivity in Indo-ASEAN border trade through the new Mao to Moreh via Ukhrul roads (105 kms), while he assured to take up pending issues relating to the ongoing projects and developmental programmes in the region. He also mentioned improvement of human resources and boosting employment in the district through sports, tourism and education.
Briefing the media, Dikho stated that NPF had brought many changes in the state through support from BJP-led govt. in the state. While appreciating the central BJP leaders, the NPF legislator also expressed unhappiness over treatment of Manipur's BJP-led govt. and slammed the BJP for not taking issues of harassment on Christians and other minority communities especially in the mainland.
The legislator believes that the BJP-led govt. would rectify and prove itself. He appreciated the central BJP leaders for taking the Indo-Naga Peace process seriously, which is the main concern of the people. ‘Once the Naga settlement is brought, the NPF leader is hopeful of a peaceful environment in Manipur’, he added.
NPF leader and former ADC Chairman, M L Markson in his speech lauded the 4 NPF MLAs, who stood for tribal rights on the expense of resigning from their seats. He also urged the gathering to re-elect leaders like minister Dikho, who has stood for tribal rights and development of the Mao Kendra.
Meanwhile, L M Tabitha, former President of Naga Women's Union in her speech stated that the introduction of NPF in Manipur has strengthened the tribal issues of Manipur through democratic means, which upholds the party motto ‘by faith, not by arms’. She said that tribals must have separate budget for developmental schemes as enshrined in the Indian Constitution, Article 371 (C), which is a constitutional right. She urged the people to elect leaders like Dikho to strengthen the NPF in unity to bring peace and development in the region.