Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday campaigned for the Naga People’s Front (NPF) in poll-bound Manipur where he pushed for Naga unity.
Rio campaigning for the NPF assumes significance because his Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, is an ally of the BJP, which is a constituent of the Nagaland government led by him.
On the other hand, the NPF is part of the BJP-led government in Manipur just like the National People’s Party but both parties are contesting the polls on their own.
Addressing a rally in the presence of senior NPF leaders T.R, Zeliang and H. Yepthomi, Rio appealed to “right-thinking” Nagas to support the 10 NPF candidates fielded in the Naga-dominated areas of Manipur with “thumping majority, signalling and giving the mandate for the Naga issue to be resolved so that we can move forward.”
Naga political issue refers to the long-drawn Naga insurgency that the rebel groups and the Centre are trying to resolve since the ceasefire in 1997. The peace process, however, seems to have got stuck of late.
Manipur goes to polls on February 28 and March 5.
In his speech, Rio stressed on Naga unity and early solution to the Naga issue. “I am aware there are other candidates... they may be very good but, Nagas, we have an issue and if you are really sincere to resolve the issue you must make some sacrifices and vote for the NPF candidates.”
Rio said: “Nagas come first. I am here to show my solidarity with the NPF to show we are united and running the (Nagaland) government to find a solution for the future and for the goodness of the Nagas. So be united...”
He also raised the December’s botched counter-insurgency operation in Oting that left 14 “innocent” civilians dead and that he was pushing for the repeal of the contentious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from Nagaland.
The law, first imposed in 1958 to curb Naga insurgency, gives unfettered power to armed forces operating in disturbed to search, arrest and shoot.
“It may come and go until the insurgency issue is resolved,” Rio added.
Nagas mostly inhabit the hill districts of Manipur and the NPF espouses the cause of Nagas, among others. The Naga political issue is an emotive issue in Naga inhabited areas in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
A senior NPF leader said the Naga population in Manipur will be over 10 lakh, a decisive voice in a state with a population of around 35. The party had won four seats in 2017.
Rio joining the launch of the NPF campaign in Senapati district was another instance of the bond between the NPF and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) getting strengthened each passing day.
The strengthening of bond started with NPF becoming part of the Rio-led Opposition-less government in August, elevation of NPF legislature party leader Zeliang as the chairman of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) replacing Rio and the induction of NPF ML Y.M. Yollow Konyak in the Nagaland cabinet early this month.
While Rio, who left the NPF to join the NDPP before the 2018 Nagaland polls because of infighting, attacked the Congress in his speech, NPF leader H. Yepthomi went all out against both the Congress and the BJP.
He said people of Manipur should “not” think about the Congress, which has become the mother-son-daughter party alluding to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka.
He criticised Rahul, the “Prime Minister in waiting” for leaving out the northeast in his February 10 “India is a union of states” tweet.
Yepthomi also criticised Modi for not resolving the Naga issue, having “promised” to do so in 18 months. “He has now spent nearly eight years as Prime Minister,” he said.
The BJP had in the 2017 Manipur Assembly polls won 21 seats, the NPF 4, NPP 4 and the Congress 28 in the 60-member House.
The BJP, which is contesting all the seats, will be releasing its manifesto on Thursday.
