Chief Minister and NPF president Dr. Neiphiu Rio addressing the NPF Central Executive Council meeting in Kohima on November 27. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima, November 27
Nagaland Chief Minister and NPF president Dr. Neiphiu Rio today said that the recent merger of the NPF and NDPP into one had created history “not for ourselves, not for our interest, but for the interest of the Nagas and the regional party.”
“With this coming together, making a big family, we are all happy. People are happy. But that will depend on how smoothly we can function and we can work together,” he said while addressing the Central Executive Council meeting of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) at Kohima on November 27.
He said that the coming together of the two parties is to uphold the history, tradition, culture, and identity of the Nagas. The Chief Minister stressed the need to continue to pursue and fight for the rights of the Nagas. He recalled that the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) was renamed as Naga People’s Front because Nagas are not only in Nagaland but also in Manipur and Assam.
He said that there are five NPF MLAs from Manipur and the NPF has a presence in Arunachal Pradesh as well. “Now, how small it may be, we must also have our footprint in Assam,” Dr. Rio said. “We cannot go beyond the international border but we used to help Naga friends across the border,” he added, urging party leaders to work with that spirit.
“To be in the regional party, it is a huge sacrifice. It is in the service of our people,” he said, calling on party workers to carry the aspiration of regionalism to uphold “our identity and our culture and traditions.”
Stating that Nagas are recognised by both the British and India, he said, “We should be proud of ourselves. We should uphold our identity.” This (NPF) party should become a disciplined party, a cadre-based party, so that the younger generation is on a solid platform, he said, adding that the people’s cause will be spoken from this platform and the party will fight for the rights of the Nagas.
“Let us be a proud Naga. Let us be a proud member of the Naga People’s Front,” Dr. Rio said.
He also urged party workers to reach out to the common people at the grassroots and enable them to avail various government schemes and programmes.
On the upcoming festive season, he requested all churches and citizens to put up Christmas stars by November 29 and 30.
NPF Working President Abu Metha said the coming together of two major political parties was “an expression of unity and oneness, and a strong message that went out, not just here in Nagaland, but across the country.” Today, this regional party has sent out a strong message to all sections of Naga society that unity and oneness is the only way. “It is the only option for us,” he said.
