NPF president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu has warned that Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), if passed in Rajya Sabha, would take the form of a cyclone, destroying everything on its path regardless of whether it was BJP, Congress or NPF and the existence of indigenous people of the Northeast would be imperilled.
Cautioning that they could not afford to make a mistake and put their future at stake, he appealed to indigenous people to stand together united.
Addressing a programme to kick off NPF’s election campaign for outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency at Senapati in Manipur on Wednesday, Shürhozelie said the ensuing Lok Sabha polls were crucial due to the threat CAB posed to the people of Northeast.
He claimed that the Bill could not get through in Rajya Sabha due to strong opposition, including from NPF MP. Yet, he said BJP president Amit Shah on two or three occasions expressed his strong determination to pass CAB, if BJP returned to power.
The NPF president insisted that CAB should not be mixed with other issues and cautioned that there would be no peace if the Bill was passed and appealed for support to the NPF candidate. He asserted that NPF would protect the minorities and identity of the Nagas, even as he urged voters to be cautious while exercising their franchise.
He explained that his party did not want to divide secular votes and hence decided to support Congress candidate KL Chishi for Nagaland’s lone Lok Sabha seat.
Meanwhile, addressing the meeting, NPF candidate Dr Lorho S Pfoze assured to stand by truth with humility, adding that only truth could set the Nagas free.
He acknowledged the NPF central team for boosting the morale of party supporters in Outer Manipur and encouragement.
In his speech, NPF Manipur State unit president and legislator Awangbow Newmai said the Nagas in Manipur were leaving in fear and had no security.
Referring to enforcement of Armed Force (Special Powers) Act and CAB, he alleged that Central government did not have any respect or recognise minority communities as human beings and as such imposed such laws.
He said, though there was no power to stop passage of any law in Parliament, the will of people could prevent such enactments. He vowed to defend members of minority communities in Outer Manipur and never to allow passage of CAB in Parliament.
Stating that Nagas in Manipur wanted to lead a respectable life, Newmai said the NPF candidate was chosen to represent the Nagas, their voice and interests. He claimed that Lorho understood the sufferings of people and appealed for electing him.
NPF’s Lok Sabha member and party secretary general KG Kenye and working president Huska Yepthomi also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Manipur legislator K Leishiyo delivered welcome address, while PHE minister L Dikho proposed vote of thanks.
Ordained priests and pastors led by Rev P Ng Lohrü proposed dedicatory prayer to the candidate.
Thousands of people from different walks of life, including civil society organisations, Muslim communities, tribal and student bodies, NPF central team, NPF MSU and others attended the programme.