Newmai News Network & Agencies
TAMENGLONG, March 29
In his second visit to Manipur in less than a week, Nagaland Chief Minister firmly placed the NPF battle against the Congress in the state. He addressed two election rallies for the NPF candidate Soso Lorho, in Tamenglong district. Lorho’s campaign for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency was launched by Rio on March 26, at the Mini stadium in Senapati district.
After addressing an election rally at the Liangmai naga dominated Tamei town, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio arrived at the Tamenglong district headquarter, around 150 km west of Imphal at around 1.15 pm at the district headquarter.
The significance of the Naga People’s Front contesting the elections was not lost on Rio and he made sure the crowd knew this too. In May 2012, Rio was unable to launch the NPF Manipur state unit following opposition from the Chief Minister Ibobi Singh. The Congress and Ibobi are known for their averse stand against the concept and prospects of a greater Nagaland, which remains a central electoral issue for the NPF.
Not surprisingly, Rio in his introduction told the waiting crowd that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) is ‘their’ party and Soso Lorho their candidate. Dwelling on the emotive issue of Naga unification and their identity Rio said that all the Nagas are divided and scattered in various places such as Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. Wherever Nagas are, their problems are unsolved. NPF is pursuing for historical rights, culture and identity of the Nagas, he added.“There is no future for Nagas in congress, no congress leader is not willing to take challenge or pain to work for the interest of the Naga people”, he claimed.
Neiphiu Rio alleged that Chief Minister of Manipur Ibobi Singh along with Union Ministry Home Affairs (NE) in charge, Jt Secretary, Shambu Singh was trying to prevent him from visiting the Manipur. He told the crowd how Shambu Singh had tried to prevent his helicopter from landing in a helipad in Tamenglong town.
“He is no doubt the Manipur cadre of IAS and today he has been constantly working against us in collaboration with Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh,” alleged Rio.
He said while much has been achieved during his 11 year tenure as Nagaland Chief Minister there was still much to be accomplished and appealed to the crowd to turn up in large numbers on April 9 to vote for Soso Lorho.
Lauding the the people of Tamenglong for taking time to come to the election rally of Soso Lorho, the NPF candidate today, Rio said in Nagaland all the political parties supported him in the ensuing Lok Sabha poll except for the Congress. “Poll canvassing in Nagaland may not be that hectic as most of the people are with them,” a confident Rio told the gathering.
He said the reason for him contesting the Lok Sabha elections was to take up a”larger responsibility in Delhi”
According to NPF Manipur unit sources, the Nagaland chief minister is also scheduled to address similar election rallies at Ukhrul and Chandel district headquarters on March 31.
Rio was accompanied by Nagaland planning minister TR Zeliang, NPF candidate Soso Lorho, former Minister Jangamlung Panmei and others.
