Naga People’s Front (NPF) president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu has asked as to whether the Nagas of Manipur were in favour of the much talked about Naga integration, saying NPF entry into Manipur was to speak for the rights of the Nagas.
Addressing an election rally at Mao gate Saturday, Shürhozelie said: “Nagas of Manipur have been living like a second class citizen under Manipur for which you have been fighting for all these years and you have just six days to go to take the crucial decision or continue to live and suffer as second class citizen under the government of Manipur.”
Stating that India was one of the largest democratic country, where everyone has the equal rights, Shürhozelie asked “but why Nagas of Manipur and also the hill (tribal) citizens are denied the same rights?”
He reminded that the same people had been representing in the Manipur Legislative assembly for the last nine consecutive terms but failed to make any impact of the presence of the hill people.
He justified that NPF party’s decision to expand its party to Manipur was to speak for the birthright of the Nagas. He said integration was “our fundamental rights” as Nagas were from the same family, Shürhozelie asserted: “We’ve our rights and we’ll continue to do for integration even in future”.
Commenting on the ongoing “Indo-Naga political talks”, Shürhozelie said his party wanted an early settlement but was facing problems because of the issue of Naga integration. Further, he said forthcoming election would be “a referendum for the Nagas integration” and challenged that if the people were in favour of Naga integration.