NPF Saturday ridiculed the NDPP for defending “its master Neiphiu Rio, incumbent chief minister” and described it as a “cheap publicity game” to divert attention from the pertinent issues concerning the Nagas.
NPF through its press bureau claimed that being the parent regionalist political party of the state, it was only concerned for the destiny of the Naga people unlike “the yesterday-born political party” NDPP formed by “a bunch of political opportunists”, who would shift their loyalty anytime and would no more be in the political map of Nagaland tomorrow.
NPF wondered how NDPP was trying to defend Rio’s June 12, 2018 statement in Delhi where he “clearly declared” that Naga integration was not possible and PDA government would not oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016.
NPF said it was not concerned under what obligation or compulsion Rio “bowed down” to such stand for the future of the Naga people. It, however, said that since NPF represented the identity of the Naga people it would continue to fight for the rights of the Naga people. NPF alleged that so long Nagaland was ruled by Rio and NDPP party, the future of the Naga people appeared bleak.
According NPF, the chief minister announced that PDA government would not oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 since Article 371 (A) was “good enough status to protect the Nagas”.
In this regard, NPF asked the chief minister to point out under which Clause of the Article 371 (A) was Nagaland protected from the Citizenship Bill. It also asked how far the Naga people were protected for the last 55 years under the Article from illegal immigrants in Dimapur and adjoining areas.
Further, it asked whether the cabinet had gone through the contents of the proposed Citizenship Bill.
Unless the contents of the proposed Bill were discussed in the Cabinet, NPF said how could chief minister “manipulate and try to back track with fabricated language to convince the public.”
NPF has demanded that the chief minister come out clearly on why he opposed the integration of the Naga people and supported the Citizenship Bill, which would invite the influx of the illegal migrants into the Naga soil to swallow the Nagas and turning Nagaland into another Tripura state where the tribals were minority at present.
With regard to the above two “pertinent issues,” the NPF maintained that the Nagas NGOs and civil society groups should also raise their opinion either negative or positive, saying it was the collective effort that could protect and defend the destiny of the future of the Naga people.
On NDPP’s assertion that last resolution on integration was adopted under the leadership of present chief minister on December 18, 2003, the NPF reminded the NDPP that during the last 15 years of NPF government, in which Rio was made chief minister for three consecutive terms, the resolutions in support of the Naga integration were passed in the assembly.
Admitting that it was during Rio chief ministership that resolution on Naga integration was passed, the NPF, however, said that the resolution was not passed under the capacity of chief minister but because it was the stand of NPF governments.
It explained to the NDPP that NPF party constitution under Article II Clause-C clearly asserts “to work for unity and integrity of the Naga people by integrating all contiguous Naga inhabited areas under one administrative roof and also to provide protection to all the ethnic groups who are indigenous inhabitants of all Naga inhabited areas”.
Further, NPF pointed out Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu during his short duration as chief minister paid a maiden visit to Manipur state and met the present chief minister Biren Singh and discussed various issues concerning the Nagas. “These were the living proof that NPF walks the talk unlike the NDPP who keep on giving false promises to the people,” it stated.
Regarding the peace process, the NPF recalled that Rio after vacating chief minister seat and left for Delhi, the NPF government accelerated the peace process by “taking a giant step” and constituted “cabinet committee of political affairs mission” and started working on mission mode by appointing G. Kaito as minister of political affairs mission.
In the last Assembly election, NPF said since Naga political solution was one of its top most priorities the party restrained itself from filing any nominations by acknowledging the call given by the Naga civil societies seeking solution before election. NPF said the centre had termed TR Zeliang as “anti-National for not willing to participate in the election.”
However, it said the NDPP “immediately” entered into seat sharing with BJP, which was all out for the election with their slogan “election for solution”.
Lambasting NDPP statement for accusing NPF of endorsing the NPCC booklet by dragging the name of NPF leaders, C Apok and SI Jamir, the NPF said the allegation of the NDPP does not hold any water. It reminded NDPP that any person/persons from any political parties joining the NPF party and subscribing to the constitution of the party and adhering to the party aims and objectives was an active NPF member.
Meanwhile, NPF said NDPP bringing up educational qualification issue of the leader of the opposition time and again was a childish game. It said the matter has already been settled in the Supreme Court of India after it was challenged in the court “by none other than Rio’s man.”
NPF while taking all the NDPP statements into account underscored that NDPP had nothing to write and have lost their arguments, which it said also indicated that they were feeling insecure “as the PDA government may fall any moment by their own weight and contradiction.”