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Neiphiu Rio addressing an event in Mon town on May 19.[/caption]
Dimapur, May 19 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio reiterated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to give privilege to the Eastern Nagas, which was stated during the last general election campaign rally in Tuensang.
Keeping in mind the PM’s assurances, Rio appealed to the people to give their valuable mandate to the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) candidate so that he will represent them at the Centre. He assured that the PDA government will uplift the Eastern Naga areas.
A press release was issued by media cell of the Chief Minister Office on Saturday.
Addressing a massive gathering at the council hall in Mon town on May 19, Rio said that ‘the sentiments of Nagas have been hurt so much because of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) leadership’s greed and selfishness which was the main cause of the instability and unreliability of their governments.’
Informing that the Democratic Party was formed in 1963 with the ‘crowing cock’ as the party symbol, it was only in 1969 that Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu entered politics during the time of the UDF and therefore, he said Liezietsu is not the founder of the regional party.
“The NPF president had earlier contested the 1999 Lok Sabha election much against the wishes of his then colleagues as an independent candidate with bus as his election symbol by ditching the erstwhile NPC after getting it derecognised under his presidentship,” Rio said.
He urged the people not to be misled by the NPF’s propaganda but to know the truth about the genesis and history of the party.
PDA consensus candidate for the ensuing by-polls to the Lok Sabha, Tokheho Yepthomi pointed out’the double standard nature of the NPF,’ stating that although NPF is still part and parcel of the BJP Government in Manipur, in Nagaland they have been portraying BJP as communal and anti-Christian in their speeches and statements.
Tokheho said ‘the BJP has been ignoring TR Zeliang because of his corrupt nature.’ On the contrary, he compared Rio’s leadership and capability to that of a gigantic tree and said ‘Rio is the only one who can give shade and shelter to the Naga people.’
Talking about his candidature for the upcoming bye-election, Tokheho said that with the blessings and guidance of Chingwang Konyak, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) president; Visasolie Lhoungu, state BJP president and the alliance partners such as the JD (U), NPP and the lone Independent legislator, he has high hopes that he will do well and appealed to the people to vote for a progressive Nagaland.
State BJP president, Visasolie Lhoungu in his address said that voting for the NPF candidate, C Apok Jamir ‘will be a loss for the Naga people since he will be in the opposition benches even if he goes to Parliament and won’t be of much help in representing the people at the Centre.’ He added that the PDA candidate Yepthomi is an experienced, time-tested leader who knows the system of governance well while Apok was always spoon-fed.
Countering NPF’s rants about the BJP being anti-Christian, he questioned the NPF whether they (NPF) were Hindus for the last 15 years when BJP and NPF were allies. Supporting his statement, he said Nagas will remain Christians no matter what. The BJP president exuded confidence and said that winning is assured but the PDA candidate should win with a thumping victory. “We are going to vote for unity, peace, development and change.”
Expressing discontentment on TR Zeliang and Dr. Shürhozelie’s leadership, the NDPP president said that both have ‘failed the Nagas since they lack honesty, sincerity.’
On the leader of the opposition, TR Zeliang’s statement that the “PDA days are numbered”, Konyak challenged whether the NPF will be able to safeguard and have all their MLAs secured with them. He also said NPF should talk politics and not religion.