Chizokho Vero
Morung Express News
Imphal | January 7
Making its maiden entry into Manipur state’s legislative assembly polls, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) central office today formally distributed NPF party tickets to 12 candidates to contest in the 12 assembly constituencies.
NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, also minister for Urban Development & Higher Education administered the aprty’s pledge to 12 candidates and later handed over the party’s tickets to them at a function held at Phymai Taphaou village. In attendance during the event was also the chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, NPF working president Huska Yepthomi and several other top party workers.
Speaking during the occasion, Dr. Liezietsu said the NPF which expanded to Manipur is ‘not to create any problem for Manipur state or not to change the territorial boundaries but its intention to strengthen the democratic system.’
If all 20 seats of the hill areas come together with one voice, Dr. Liezietsu said, their voice would be heard in the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the same voice will bring about balanced development. The Meitei, Naga and Kuki are ‘good neighbours since time immemorial and will continue to live together till the end of the world,’ he claimed. Governments and politicians will come and go but the relation will continue so long as the world exists, he said.
‘Let us renew our fight for cause of Nagas,’ Rio said in his address. He asked the people to make sure that sufficient Naga MLAs are elected to speak for the right of the Nagas. Rio said the NPF will see that the minorities and hill people are protected; the party will bring new policies for the uplift of the common people, Rio said. ‘This opportunity might not come again,’ he said and reminded that if the NPF candidates don’t fare well in this election, it would be not only a defeat to the candidates but it will be a defeat for the Naga cause which Nagas have been struggling for the last more than six decades.
He further said that the NPF’s entry into Manipur in the forthcoming general election is going to be ‘another referendum on the issue of the demand for Naga integration.’
He expressed hope that the people ‘will know the seriousness of the launching of NPF party in Manipur but for political and emotional integration of the Nagas as a family.’ Rio challenged that the time has come for the Nagas to show their ‘true colour.’
According to the chief minister the Government of India and it agencies are trying to ‘blackmail the NPF’ by alleging that it had nexus with ‘certain underground factions.’ This allegation, Rio said, he has denied.
Also speaking during the event, NPF working president Huska Yepthomi said that a time has come for the Nagas to realize the need to come together through the NPF party for which the party was expanded.
