NDPP leader Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday urged the electorates to know the ideologies of political parties and not to take the Indo Naga Political issue and elections lightly.

Our people are at risk for money, he said while addressing a public rally for 14 Southern Angami-I Assembly Constituency, NDPP candidate Medo Yhokha, here at Kimipfüphe ground, Kigwema.

Rio pointed out that the people of the state should not likely take politics lightly with any political parties that come during election period and then exits after the result is out. He advised the electorates to carefully read the ideologies of such parties while he told the people to be committed for regional parties that exists for regional interests adding that the NDPP is a secular party that is regional in character and at the same time national and global in its outlook.

He advised the people to look out for parties that will protect the Naga history and pursue the Naga political issue and not fall prey to any party that would take lightly the Naga interests for their own gain while he also expressed concern of the Naga people falling short of money power.

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Rio maintained that the BJP respecting the Naga unique identity had proposed for seat sharing of the 40:20 and is facing an election which he viewed will enable an early resolution of the Naga political issue and development of the state. He also added that the centre realising the 95% Christianity in the state had made an alliance which he said is respect and recognising the Naga people.

In this election to the 14th NLA, the NDPP should perform better to strengthen the party and his leadership as the new house would be taking crucial decisions and in order to deliver justice to the Naga people, the CM added.

Rio said that everyone was expecting a solution before the election as the unresolved Naga issue had for so long stopped the people from achieving their fullest potential while also creating an identity crisis among the people.

He added that the issue had also created doubts upon the state government who are acting as facilitators and from the Naga political groups and the Centre at times and yet, he stated, the aspiration and pursuit of the government is to resolve the issue and make the Naga identity clear and serve the people.

Highlighting that the NSCM IM had on August 3, 2015 signed the Framework agreement with the centre and the WC-NNPGs also signed the Agreed position on November 17 with the centre to be in Indian Union recognising the recognising the historical rights and upkeep and protect the Naga identity, tradition, culture and customary.

He however remarked that owing to differences of the various political groups, it could not arrive at a solution before election as only on January 14 this year the NSCN and the WC-NNPGs signed the joint accordance for early resolution of the Naga political issue, however shortly from there the poll date was announced.

The colonial rulers invaded the Naga Hills in 1832 and waged war till 1879 with Battle of Khonoma as the last war and yet they recognised the uniqueness of the Nagas from other mainland Indians, Rio said. In its effort to let Nagas self-administer, the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act (BEFRA) was passed in 1873 at British Parliament in London, which is now called the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to protect the Nagas from exploitation of its resources and antics, he added.

He stated that even after statehood the Article 371(A) having special provision for the state of Nagaland was put in place, adding that the Naga political issue is still on which the Indian Government also recognised it as political and not law and order situation.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that India is a powerful nation and is aspiring to be the most powerful nation in the world while its citizens are excelling at par and emerging as global leaders in various professions.

He also shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern for the long pending Naga political issue and he said the issue must be resolved at the earliest to provide opportunities to the youth and investments.

He added that the resolution of the Naga issue will also enable the state to be removed from the disturbed state tag and the AFSPA.

He also hit back to all sections of people demanding for President’s Rule in the state which he said is unwise on their part as they don’t know nor have experienced the atrocities to the people of the past in the past years with killings and causing trauma among the people.

Informing that delimitation is impending, he also expressed concerned over the bogus date of census, electoral rolls, and household, school enrolment asserting that all this should be properly reviewed and done with transparency for posterity while he also pointed out the lapses of the 2001 census and 2011 which the government had objected for use as record for delimitation.

Rio shared the need for reformation in the society stating the with the resolution of the Naga political issue, followed by delimitation he relayed to the participants of the rally what the centre had shared with the state government as facilitator of the Naga talks that post-solution there will be an addition of the 20 more seats in NLA and addition of more parliamentary seats each for CNTC, ENPO and the Tenyimia.

Rio asserted the need for electing a good leader to be in the government for good politics to bring about change and not take politics lightly.

Participated in the public rally for Shri. @MedoYhokha, @NDPPofficial candidate for 14-Southern Angami-1 A/C. He has made a notable representation in the NLA. I appeal to the constituents to vote for him so that he may serve you again. I appeal for peaceful and fair election. pic.twitter.com/p68QGIXumx

— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) February 21, 2023

Dwelling on ENPO demand for Frontier Nagaland, despite the 60 members unanimously resolving 6 times and even passed resolution in the NLA for integration of Naga contagious areas, he reiterated that in the backdrop, the ENPO raised the issue in 2010 and the state government had accordingly formed a committee headed by Chief Secretary to study and sent recommendations in 2011 to the central government. In the recent past the ENPO had even boycotted the Hornbill Festival and even attempted to boycott the Election however talks with the Union Home Minister was positive so they had resolve to participate in the election, he said.

Rio informed that the 14th NLA will extend full support of the region to bring them at par with the rest of the state and even if they decide to be separated, the government will not be an obstacle, rather give full support.

Meanwhile he informed that the new house will be notifying for conducting the Urban Local Body (ULB) Election with 33% women reservations will also be conducted from the tenure of the new state government, he said the citizens should follow the laws – to levied tax for the own town management and provide women reservation adding that, the delay for so long had even been a stumbling block for the ministry’s funding and development in the state.

The chief minister stated that women in the state are excelling at par and even ahead of its counterpart-men and he pointed out that women are advanced even in the higher education sector.

Pointing out that the government had been advocating for transparency and meritocracy in the state wherein NSSB was formed and exam was also conducted that it had also strengthened the NPSC to a much extent.

Further he also highlighted the initiative of the state government such as Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS) and Chief Minister Microfinance Initiative (CMMI) scheme, setting up of a police sports battalion and others.

He called upon the people 14th Southern Angami-I AC to vote for the NDPP candidate Medo Yhokha to strengthen his government to work for the people.