Kohima, June 16 (MExN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) today “ridiculed” the NDPP’s statement defending its leader Neiphiu Rio, the Chief Minister.
“The NPF wonders as to how the NDPP is trying to defend the instant issue where Rio on June 12 has clearly declared in New Delhi to the media that Naga integration is not possible and PDA government will not oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016,” stated a rejoinder from NPF Press Bureau.
It alleged that the Chief Minister had announced that Article 371 (A) is good enough status to protect the Nagas and therefore, the PDA government will not oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016. “Therefore, the NPF would like to ask the Chief Minister to point out under which Clause of the Article 371 (A) is Nagaland protected from the Citizenship Bill. How far the Naga people are protected for the last 55 years under the Article from illegal immigrants at Dimapur and adjoining areas,” NPF added.
Asking whether the cabinet had gone through the contents of the proposed Bill, the opposition party questioned, “Unless the contents of the proposed Bill were discussed in the Cabinet, how can a Chief Minister manipulate and try to back track with fabricated language to convince the public?”
The NPF demanded the Chief Minister himself to come out clearly as to why he opposes the integration of the Naga people and also support the Citizenship Bill.
Regarding the two above “pertinent” issues, the NPF felt that “the Naga NGOs and civil societies should also raise their opinion either negative/positive as the party believe that it is the collective effort that can protect and defend the destiny of the future of the Naga people.”
The rejoinder also reminded that during the last 15 years of NPF government, resolutions were passed in the Assembly in support of the Naga integration. It also noted that Article II Clause-C of NPF clearly states “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.”
The party also pointed out that Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu during his short duration as chief minister of the NPF government had paid a maiden visit to Manipur State and met the present Chief Minister Biren Singh and discussed various issues concerning the Nagas.
Regarding the peace process, the NPF recollected that after Rio vacated his Chief Minister seat and left for Delhi, the NPF government accelerated the peace process by constituting “Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs Mission” and started working on mission mode by appointing G. Kaito as Minister of Political Affairs Mission.
NPF also lambasted the NDPP statement that the former has endorsed the booklet of the NPCC ‘Bedrock of Naga Society’ by dragging the name of NPF leaders. It reminded that any person, be it from any political parties, who joins the NPF party and subscribe to its constitution and adhere to the party aims and objectives is an active NPF member. “Therefore, the allegation of the NDPP does not hold any water.”
