Rio warms hearts in Assam with Nagamese

Correspondent GUWAHATI, DECEMBER 14 THEY say music is universal and has no barriers. Today, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio proved how language breaks barriers. Addressing a rally called by the North East Regional Party Front at Bharalumukh field in Guwhatai by the banks of the Brahmaputra river, Rio warmed himself into the hearts of a 10,000 strong crowd by speaking in Nagamese. For many, this would have been the first time that they would have heard a leader from Nagaland addressing a public rally in Nagamese, a pigeon language spoken widely in Nagaland as a language of communication between the many different tribes, in the absence of one Naga tongue.The crowd, comprised largely of supporters of the Asom Gana Parishad, cheered and applauded Rio’s address. The rally was also attended by the chief advisor of NERPF, Prafulla Mahanta, also former Chief Minister of Assam. Convenor of NERPF, Rio told an amused and bemused but largely appreciative audience to strengthen the position of the Asom Gana Parishad in Assam. Rio said a strong Asom Gana Parishad promotes regionalism in the state and helps regional parties to get stronger. He emphasised that for regionalism to gain strength and take roots in the rest of the states, the health of the AGP is the beginning. For some months now, the NEPRF has been trying to align with regional parties on to a common platform so they can prove to be a factor to deal with during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. On his part, Mahanta painted the Congress as the villain in Indian politics but he was also quick to add how BJP is not very different. He cited instances from the last assembly elections in Assam when AGP entered into an alliance with the BJP. Mahanta remarked that while the AGP supported BJP candidates, the experience of AGP candidates was not. BJP supporters failed to show support to the AGP leading to their defeat. Mahanta further said while the BJP state leadership shows support for the AGP in the land scrap deal with Bangladesh, the party remains quiet on the issue in Delhi. The meeting is being seen as the first in a series of such public rallies that will become more common place in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.