NAGALAND: NPF ISSUED REJOINDER AGAINST CM’S STATEMENT

The Naga People’s Front has issued a rejoinder in response to the Press release issued by NDPP Media and Communication Committee on Sunday.

In the rejoinder the NPF mentioned-the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) statement defending over the indefensible statement of the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio on the issue of integration of all contiguous Naga areas. But the Nagas cannot be convinced by such pointless arguments produced by the NDPP.

The NPF added "being the Chief Minister of the State Neiphiu Rio should make his stand clear on important issues such as Integration of Naga contiguous areas and Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016. The NDPP has tried to cover up the matter by claiming that the NPF was spreading ‘lies and propaganda’ despite NETV and other national Electronic Media including Print Media disseminating the interaction with Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio on 12 June at New Delhi, both in visual and print form. The report, which went viral across various sections of the Media and under public domain is a standing witness to the subject and it is for the Naga people to judge whether the Naga Peoples’ Front is reiterating and asserting the legitimate rights of the Nagas".

Regarding the Resolution on Integration of Naga contiguous areas on 18 December 2003, it was initiated based on the political stand and policy of the Naga People’s Front. The resolution was the fifth resolution adopted by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) while four others were adopted prior to Neiphiu Rio becoming the Chief Minister.

The then Planning Minister, T.R Zeliang was NPF Minister In-Charge of Manipur who selflessly initiated the ground work and upon its completion, Neiphiu Rio as Chief Minister was taken to Senapati to launch the Party. As such, the claim of NDPP that ‘Neiphiu Rio risked his chair, his political career and even his own life’ to launch NPF Unit in Manipur on 28 May, 2011 is a concocted notion.

Moreover, prior to expansion of the Naga Peoples’ Front to Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, Civil Societies like the Naga Hoho, the Naga Students Federation and others had cohesively worked with the Nagas in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and to claim that it was Neiphiu Rio who ignited Minister of Nagaland should personally make its stand clear before the Nagas as his statement has put a big hurdle on the ongoing peace process. Should the ongoing peace process derailed, Neiphiu Rio and the PDA Government should be solely held responsible.