Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio Saturday attributed the Naga People’s Front (NPF)-led DAN’s victory in the recent Lok Sabha election, to the massive participation of the people in the democratic exercise. The DAN consensus candidate said: “My victory in the recently declared Lok Sabha election was people’s victory and not DAN’s. The full participation of the people resulted in NPF winning with big margin of over 4 lakh votes. This could be the second highest in the country next to Modi. Rio also disclosed that he would demit office when the din over the Lok Sabha election settled down.
The chief minister was interacting with this Correspondent at the CM’s residence, Kohima Saturday morning just before he left for Delhi with T.R. Zeliang, C.M. Chang and G. Kaito Aye Saturday afternoon.
When asked if he expected anything in particular from the soon to be formed Narendra Modi government, Rio said though there were no specific expectations and whether he gets any Central government portfolio or not, he would continue to work for the people.
Alleging negligence by the Centre, the chief minister reminded that the UPA Prime Minister never visited the state in the 10 years. He said there was enough indication that UPA government at the Centre ignored small states and minorities though they talked a lot about their development.
Rio lamented that most of the projects in the state could be implemented due to fund constraints. “Specifically, in the last 10 years, we struggled because of UPA at the centre and indifferent attitude of NPCC due to which so many policies and programmes could not be implemented. They tried to strangulate and suppress us, however we survived”, Rio alleged.
NPF to pursue Naga solution
Rio said the he and the NPF-led DAN government under the leadership of T.R. Zeliang would pursue the Naga political issue vigorously with the centre and called upon all Naga political groups to unite. He said that the DAN government was committed to the Naga people to help bring an honourable solution to the protracted Naga political issue. “Solution to Naga political problem is one of the most important promises we made to the people. Therefore, we will pursue vigorously which we have committed to the people”, said Rio.
Nagas lost golden opportunity: Rio
Neiphiu Rio while commenting on NPF’s defeat in Outer Manipur Lok Sabha Constituency said that Nagas have defeated the Nagas and said it was not the Congress party’s fault.
“I felt very bad. It is a bad luck for the Nagas”, Rio said and regretted that Nagas have lost a golden opportunity by losing the Outer Manipur seat by a slight margin.
If NPF had won in Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, it would have made things different and Naga could have benefitted a lot especially on the issue of emotional integration and Naga political issue.
Rio lauds Modi, Rajnath: On Friday, Rio also sent separate letters to both Prime Minister in-waiting Narendra Modi and BJP president Rajnath Singh congratulating the two leaders for the massive landslide victory of the party in the Lok Sabha election.
In a letter forwarded to Modi, Rio assured “cooperation and support” of DAN for the formation of a strong and stable government at the Centre. He also exuded confidence that under the leadership of Modi, the destiny of the country, especially the backward regions would definitely change for the better.
He hoped that Modi would take the country forward on the path of inclusive growth, progress and prosperity.
In the letter forwarded to BJP president Rajnath Singh, Rio said the scale of victory was beyond the expectations. He said that the massive victory of the BJP has already “energized and enthused” the people of India.
Rio on behalf of the people of Nagaland and of the North East Regional Political Front pledged support to the new government to be formed by BJP and its allies.
Rio expresses gratitude
Nagaland chief minister and NPF-led DAN winning Lok Sabha candidate in a separate press release issued on Friday has expressed gratitude to the people of Nagaland for reposing faith in him and for giving him the mandate to represent them in Parliament.
Rio thanked all the rank and file of the NPF and DAN alliance members for supporting him in the last 11 years. He also lauded the tribal hohos, the churches, NGOs and civil society groups in Nagaland for their support.
The chief minister also appreciated the electorate of the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency and assembly constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh who have supported NPF.
Though NPF could not win in these areas, a large section of the people came forward and supported the party cause of bringing Naga people together which had served the vision of emotionally uniting Nagas.
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