Neiphiu Rio with NPF leaders and elected members of Nagaland along with Phawang Lowang, NPF candidate for 56 Khonsa west assembly segment under Arunachal Pradesh and others at Lazu on April 4.
Dimapur, April 4 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister today campaigned in Arunachal Pradesh. Addressing a huge rally at Lazu which is under 56 Khonsa east assembly segment, Rio called for emotional integration of the Naga people while assuring that he would take up the problems and issues of not just the Naga people, but of the entire north eastern region as convenor of the North East Regional Parties Forum (NERPF).
According to a press release, he informed the people that the NERPF had passed 17 points resolution and had submitted a memorandum to the Government of India through the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The NERPF delegation had also called on the President of India to highlight the issues and problems of the north eastern region. He regretted that despite the NERPF taking up the issue of discrimination of people from the north east in the national capital and other metros, the Government of India had not taken up any concrete steps and it resulted in the unfortunate murder of Nido Tania, a youth from Arunachal.
Rio also called upon the people to cast their vote with a clear conscience, stating that only a regional party would be able to address the local issues and local problems. National parties only serve the high command, but for regional parties, the people are the real high command, the Nagaland Chief Minister stated.
He highlighted the vision of the regional parties and its look east policy. He informed that he had recently visited Myanmar and had interactions with the top leadership of Myanmar including the chief ministers of Saigaing and Mandalay. He said that Nagas are being recognized across international boundaries and it was now time to unite emotionally and politically so that “our” voice could be heard by the outside world in a democratic and peaceful manner.
Rio was accompanied by DAN Campaign Committee Co-Convenor and Minister Kuzhuluzo, Minister EE Panteang, DUDA Advisor Naiba Konyak, Parliamentary Secretary CL John, NERPF Secretary Abu Metha and a host of senior NPF leaders.
On April 2 and 3, Neiphiu Rio campaigned in Assam after winding up his three days of hectic campaigning in Manipur. On April 5, Rio will touch down in Mizoram to campaign for the United Democratic Front, a consensus front of regional parties led by the Mizo National Front (MNF), which is one of the members of the NERPF.
