Vote for party whose priority is Naga political solution — TR Zeliang

Dimapur, May 20 (EMN): Bringing to light various initiatives taken during the previous Naga people’s Front (NPF) led regime in facilitating the Indo-Naga peace issue, leader of the opposition, TR Zeliang emphasised the need for the general public to vote for a candidate whose party’s priority was based on settlement of the protracted Naga political issue.

“For the Naga Peoples’ Front, our top agenda is to resolve Naga political problem,” he stated.

A press release was received from the Information and Publicity wing, office of the LO on Sunday.

Addressing a gathering at the rally at Tuensang Town Hall on May 20, Zeliang lambasted Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for misleading the people on the Naga issue stating that ‘any leader can speak for Naga solution to get votes but the Naga people will judge from action.’

While asserting that NDPP-BJP alliance has ocean difference from NPF-BJP, the former chief minister reminded the gathering that NPF led DAN Government managed to convince BJP MLAs in passing resolution in the State Assembly on December 15 2017 for election only after solution to Naga political problem was arrived at.

On this note, he questioned the NDPP as to why ‘it did not try to convince its seat-sharing partner, BJP to withdraw the drastic action taken against two BJP signatories Kheto Sema and Tsasepi Sangtam who had committed with the voice of Naga people on 29th Jan 2018 at Hotel Japfu, Kohima.’

Maintaining that silence of the NDPP over the action taken on the two leaders was ‘a clear indication that Rio and his party was supporting election and not solution,’ the leader of the NPF called upon the Nagas to ‘identify those leaders who are playing with the Nagas with tricky speeches and public dialogue while they have different plans inside to sabotage the Peace dialogue.’

“Naga people should cross check who is talking for the sake of talking and who is talking based on action on the ground,” Zeliang said.

Also speaking at the campaign rally in Tuensang, the NPF candidate for the Lok Sabha by-election, C Apok Jamir assured the Nagas that the protrated Naga political issue will be taken up on priority for a final settlement at the earliest.

NPF Spokesperson Achumbemo Kikon stated that ‘NDPP is not regional in nature but playing the role of proxy BJP in a Christian State just to earn the confidence of BJP Central leadership.’

The campaign team led by the former chief minister is scheduled to touch Phek and Kiphire Districts on Monday.