President NPF Central Inaugurates Permanent NPF Head Office at Senapati

A new office building of the Naga People’s Front, Manipur State Unit was inaugurated by
Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu, president, Naga People’s Front (central) as the chief guest on Friday.

Addressing the gathering, the president stated that to inaugurate a new building can be taken as a milestone for the party. To have a permanent structure as office of the party means NPF has come to stay permanently. The president expressed gratitude to all the team of Manipur State Unit and all those who had contributed to establishing office of their own. With the new building, it is believed that the party would march forward with more vigour and with new initiatives. The new building will remain as a source of the strength for all time to come.

The president also talked about the recent new development in Nagaland Legislative Assembly. NPF MLAs together with other MLAs of other different political parties like NDPP and BJP had discussions among themselves and wanted to have a new experiment to come together as one body in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly with the hope that their voice will carry more weight when they come together. Talking about the coming state general assembly election in Manipur, the NPF central president drew attention of the gathering to be approaching fast.

With the opening of the new office, the president requested all to keep the tempo to move forward and start working for the coming general election. He also thanked the 4 NPF elected representatives in the Manipur Legislative Assembly for supporting the cause of the hill people and their rights.

Sharing his regret on the ground of the 4 former MLAs of the NPF who made a supreme sacrifice to resign from the assembly against the law and against the 3 Anti Tribal bills in the state assembly, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu said, people had forgotten their sacrifice and had retained Minister Dikho only where he asked the people to be careful in future so as to go from strength to strength. With 4 MLAs from the NPF, the central president urged all to put hands and heads together and plan out very carefully in the coming election. NPF is considered to be a people’s movement and not only a political party. But in the election, the president mentioned the dangers it posed to have too many candidates as witnessed in the past years. He mentioned about American system of election with only 2 important parties as Republican and Democratic parties. Intending candidates from both the party would come together and have debate, shortlist and choose only one candidate from the party.

Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu stated to appoint selection board for Manipur very soon as the office is having series of consultations with his colleagues in the office. As soon as having appointed the selection board, they will move around to select the best candidate. He appealed all intending candidates of every constituency to sit together and find out who will be the best to choose as candidate. “The party may remain very strong but if the leaders do not give way to one another, there is no hope,” he asserted and asked to keep that in mind. Coming to all party leaders who want to contest, he asked who will look after the home if all had gone to the field, he questioned. Somebody must do field work for the family and somebody must stay at home to look after. The party leader appealed to all its members to consider seriously asking some to play the managerial role or parental role for the players in the field.

Awangbow Newmai, minister, Forest & Environment/Climate Change and Sericulture who is also the president of the NPF, Manipur State Unit expressed gratitude to the president, NPF central under whose guidance the state unit could procure the immovable property for the state unit. The land was reportedly procured with contribution from the ministers, MLAs ADC chairmen and all ADC members. The Manipur state unit president assured that the NPF is prepared to face the ADC election anytime.

The NPF leader also stated that he is hopeful to perform much better in the state assembly election. People of different communities in the state is reported to have recognised the contribution by the party as the party has been going through with so many problems 5 years before. There was a big social gap, economic gap as the newly elected representatives succeeding from the predecessors of the last term. Their approach was stated to be straight-forward approach and realistic one which or whenever any agenda or sensitive issues came up within the assembly or at the all political level where the present elected representatives put their agenda without fear or hesitation.

With a realistic approach, the Manipur Unit president asserted that there will be development and peace in the region. The minister also assured to continue to strive for peace and for social, economic and political harmony to grow equally as the party members would carry forward the party’s motto and principle of the party with commitment and with true spirit.

Y. Vikheho Swu, MLA, Nagaland and in charge, Manipur State Unit stated that NPF was formed with a spirit of honourable sacrifice. The NPF was first launched in Manipur in 2011 with a vision to bring the Nagas living in the hill areas to come under one umbrella, to highlight and develop the socio-economic development, culture, environment and one’s identity. Prior to introduction of the NPF in Manipur, candidates from the hill areas of Manipur would contest elections either from INC, FPM or the MSCP which in fact did not provide much opportunity to raise collective concern in the Naga inhabited areas.

The first 4 MLAs from the party in the previous tenure stood true to the collective responsibility to work for the betterment and recognition of Nagas living in Manipur by taking a historic decision to resign from their position against the 3 Anti Tribal Bills, passed by the Manipur Assembly. The honourable sacrifice made by the 4 MLAs from their position made the people aware about the condition of the tribals in Manipur state which successfully prevented the president of India to assent to the bill.

The enormous sacrifice by the MLAs will also be a torch bearer for the NPF in the vision to work for the people. With many vying for party ticket in the coming state assembly election, the Manipur in charge stated clearly that allocation of the party ticket would be a collective decision and assured to issue to the most deserving candidate and appealed to the party workers to continue the relentless support and trust to whom the party has bestowed its trust upon.

Secretary General, NPF central, Achumbemo Kikon called the party as a political party but a party with a difference as the NPF is stated to represent the sentiment and aspirations of the people.

Apong Pongerner, Working president, NPF, central, Kruzakie Kelio, senior vice president (Admin) NPF central, Neikuo Lhousa, Asst. In charge, Manipur state unit, N. Vihoshe Swu, president, NPF central, Youth Wing and Atou Liezietsu, press secretary, NPF central from Nagaland PHED minister Losii Dikho, K. Leishiyo, chairman, HAC, MLA Khashim Vashum, chairman caretakers of Tamenglong and Ukhrul, ADC members from different districts of Manipur and party workers of the NPF, MSU attended the program.

The entourage team from Nagaland was given a warm traditional reception at Maram centre by NPF, Maram Town Area Unit. L. Rangpung John, Former ADC member and president, NPF, Maram Town Area Unit in his welcome note stated it was fortunate that the president, NPF central stepped his foot to Maram soil for the first time this day.