Dimapur: The Rising People’s Party (RPP), the newest political party based in Nagaland, said today that the party is for Naga solution. “However, if there is no solution and election is held as scheduled next year, the soon-to-be-extinct NDPP should not be allowed to take Nagas for a ride,” the RPP said in a press statement.
It can be mentioned here that the NDPP is running the Nagaland state government in coalition with the BJP.
“To keep our regional identity alive, it is time for patriotic Nagas and intellectuals to rise from up their sleep and stop traitors from winning elections. The RPP also humbly appeals to all the ranks and files of NDPP to leave the party without delay,” the RPP statement added.
According to the RPP, from championing regionalism/Naga identity to embracing a national party is called opportunistic politics, “and when the party is none other than the NDPP it is nothing less than plain treachery”.
On July 31, 2022, according to the RPP statement, a senior journalist based in New Delhi wrote, “In 2023, after election, NDPP may merge with the BJP”. The RPP added, “That is, if at all the alliance manages to come to power”. The NDPP has not refuted this news, according to the RPP.
If this information is correct, Chief Minister Rio and the 41 NDPP MLAs, and all the rank and file of the NDPP are now basically Karyakartas of the BJP, said the RPP.
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Since 2003, according to the RPP statement, the present Chief Minister has championed himself as a regional strongman who managed to keep Delhi at bay. “Keeping aside the allegations of corruption and personal enrichment, credit should be given to him for keeping the Naga identity flag flying high for which the RPP would like to acknowledge his leadership. But today fortress Nagaland is in danger, thanks to the merger pact,” the RPP added.
“The plain truth is that the NDPP has betrayed the strong regional spirit of the Naga people, the same people who elected Mr. Rio as the Chief Minister on 4 consecutive occasions,” the statement of the RPP added.
The post- 2023 election merger of NDPP into the BJP presents a clear and present danger to the state, the RPP also said. The RPP also said that Nagaland requires a strong regional party to protect the interest of Nagaland but with the NPF rendered crippled, and the NDPP soon to be extinct, Nagas are entering an era of fear and confusion.
The statement then said, “During this period of leadership crisis and utter confusion, the Rising People’s Party, though young, is ready to rise to the occasion and stand, guard, and protect our people where others have failed.” According to the RPP, this leadership crisis is perhaps not different from 1998-2003 when the then ‘Opposition-less’ Congress government failed to read the pulse of the Naga people and was completely humiliated in the 2003 general elections.
NNN
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