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Lok sabha MP and President of Naga People’s Front (NPF) Neiphiu Rio (R) and Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang (L) at the General Convention of the NPF in DImapur, Nagaland on Wednesday, 20 September 2017. [/caption]
Staff Reporter
Dimapur, Sep.20 (EMN): Dimapur witnessed a mammoth gathering of NPF party workers supporting Chief Minister TR Zeliang and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio from Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh during the party's general convention on Wed. Sep.20, 2017 at DDSC stadium wherein around 42,000 supporters (as claimed by the party) affirmed and endorsed their support to Neiphiu Rio as the party president.
Besides the Chief Minister and 36 MLAs backing him, today's gathering has made a strong statement that Rio still commands respect and popularity within the NPF party. The main structure that housed the convention hall with a dimension of about 500x1000 feet with around 18000 chairs inside the structure was filled to the brim. The gallery of the DDSC stadium was also completely filled up and many were also seen sitting outside on the lawn. The gathering included party workers’ from the 11 districts of the state, Manipur NPF party representatives and Arunachal Pradesh NPF party representatives.
NPF party officials informed that around 20,000 badges were arranged for the delegates however they ran out of badges even while the supporters’ continued to pour in the venue, confirming that the gathering was more than 20,000.
The NPF general convention with unflinching support by 32871 NPF party workers (as per the registration record), approved the motion of both the Legislative Party and the Organisational Bodies of the party for removal of Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsü from the office of the party president with effect from Aug.13, 2017 for his autocratic, undemocratic and unconstitutional functioning of the party.
The convention endorsed and adopted the unanimous decision of the Aug. 22, 2017 CEC meeting and appointed Rio, as the President of the (NPF) with effect from Aug.13, 2017.
Also, the convention called upon the Election Commission of India (ECI) to recognise the established majority of both the legislative party and the organisational structure of the party and deliver justice at the earliest to the NPF led by President Rio.
The NPF convention reiterated its election manifesto of committing itself as the facilitator in the peace process and adopted the policy of equi-closeness. While acknowledging and appreciating the ongoing progress on the Indo-Naga peace process, the convention urged upon the negotiating parties to expedite the negotiation to bring about an inclusive and early settlement, honourable and acceptable to the Naga people.
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Addressing the gathering, Zeliang further acknowledged that the government had created lots of confusion among the people and party after the state Governor PB Acharya dismissed Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu’s government because of their marginal representation.
There are 172 Central Executive Council (CEC) with the ECI, out of which nine are presidential nominees which makes the CEC 163 members’ exclusive in strength. Out of 163, the party has 103 CEC members which is an absolute 2/3rd majority, maintained CM Zeliang.
“Because of the trust and confidence placed by the people and party functionaries, Rio has been made the president of the party and I have been made the state chief minister. However, this formation will not be able to progress to the ECI because of the tussle; and for this reason the general convention has been convened to prove majority to process it to the ECI for party approval, Zeliang expounded.
“They (Liezietsu’s group) had approached the High Court to put a stay order on Rio’s Office as the party president which was dismissed. Slyly they approached the Supreme Court which was also dismissed and therefore they approached the Mon Civil Court to bring stay order and close the NPF office led by Rio which was also dismissed and now the stay order has been petitioned at Kohima Civil Court which the court refused to give a stay order and have instead instructed to maintaine status quo” said Zeliang. Let the tussle go on till the last judgement by the Election Commission of India. The majority party will take over the ‘Cock symbol’ and the majority will rule, asserted Zeliang with assurance.
The general convention of the NPF party has been convened at the appropriate time when we are encountering all visible and invisible adversaries both from within and outside the party. I believe this convention will give us ample opportunity to discuss all pertaining issues relating to party affairs and government so that the party can carry the dream and aspirations of the people of Nagaland forward, conveyed the CM who also attributed the unwavering support of NPF party men and women for their enduring position despite all the political turmoil of the past and present.
He further added, ‘Anti defection law is very clear and I am reiterating this so that people can be clear about the confusion created through newspapers’.
Accounting the formation of NPF in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur Zeliang said: in Manipur with much intricacy NPF party was formed and today we have sown the seed which is visible with today’s participation and I anticipate that the same will be sown in Arunachal Pradesh too. If this happens ‘Naga people by and large will survive under the umbrella of Cock symbol NPF’.
“Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh are scared to identify themselves as Naga because of threat from outside community. However after the NPF party establishment in Arunachal, Nagas of Arunachal is not terrified of their identity. This is one achievement for the Naga people living in Arunachal, a one step forward that NPF has created for the Naga people living outside the state” he maintained.
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Chief Minister TR Zeliang while deliberating on the NPF-BJP coalition and the eyebrows raised at the NPF party said that the state has witnessed considerable development through the DAN alliance with the BJP.
“The coalition with BJP is not a recent development but it has been since 2003 and we have meaningful coalition with BJP as DAN government” upheld Zeliang.
“If we have to join the BJP government we could have done during the crisis period but we are fighting to protect the cock symbol so that Nagas can take shelter under NPF government” he clarified while stating “no government is in favour of corruption and with the change of system we can remove corruption”.
Taking time to publicise the national projects from the BJP government, Zeliang presented that in DAN III, the government managed to secure National Highways which in principle have been approved, that includes Showuba-Guzunyu-Phughuboto-Zunheboto-Aghunato-Shamator-Noklak-Pangsha which is about 200 km.
Trans Eastern Highway from Mon-Longwa-Pangsha-Kiphire-Avangkhu of about 280 km; Gandhi Ashram,Chuchuyimlang NH-2 to Pangsha International Trade Centre of 160 km; Peren-Tening to Tamenglong via Tamei in Manipur of about 75 km; and Simulguri-Bihubar, Assam to Mon, Nagaland of 71 km.
He reminded the gathering that Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane road will be completed in three years time which is one achievement of DAN alliance.
He also mentioned that the Golaghat gate (New Field gate) to Purana Bazaar road development has been sanctioned and the contractor have been selected. Also, Purana Bazar to Chumukedima road development has been sanctioned while the work will begin after Oct. month, he stated.
In Kohima, starting from Kohima Police check gate to Lerie junction (2 lane road), Kohima town bypass road needs to be created, for which the survey is going on.
“Dimapur-Nuiland-Zhadima should be a bypass road for Dimapur-Kohima which can be an alternative route during landslide for which a memorandum has been submitted to union ministry for which an amount has been sanctioned and work order has been issued while the work will commence soon” affirmed the CM.
The cooperation of landowners’ is essential for commencement of work and development. The landowners who have the provision for land compensation should seek for it and the state government will be willing to provide them their rights however those who do not have the right of provision should refrain from claiming. If this goes on, the work will be delayed, reiterated Zeliang.
“The NHIDCL have assured that if the project is completed by two years 3% bonus will be added and therefore the contractors are in the effort to complete the project by two years” he communicated.
Four road development projects : Merangkong-Tamlu-Mon (Rs. 1500 cr.); Changtongya-Longleng road, 35 km (Rs. 430 cr.); Chakabama-Zunheboto road (Rs. 1536 cr.); and Pfutsero-Phek (Rs. 990 cr.) sanctioned under SARDP-NE has been resolved with the Supreme Court few days back.
“The work for these roads was in progress; however since the case was lying with the SC and with the case resolved, the SC has passed an order to pay Maytas-Gayatri for the work done till date and fresh tender will be initiated. Few days back fresh tender letter was provided where the landowners are to provide No Objection Certificate (NOC) after which the tender will be floated” he detailed.
Whatever development works have been done in three years will be measured and detailed during election campaign and discussed. There are challenges ahead of NPF party, and to overcome and achieve it the party workers need to set aside differences and bring the party to victory concluded the CM.
