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NPF leaders and youth on the 14th day of their dharna outside the Civil Secretariat, Kohima on Thursday. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 9 (EMN): The youth wing of Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu-led Naga People’s Front (NPF) has on Thursday temporarily suspended its indefinite ‘dharna (sit-in protest) which was being held outside the Civil Secretariat since Oct. 24 against the Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Dr. Imtiwapang Aier’s inaction over several political issues.
“Keeping in mind the ensuing NPF general convention which is to be held on Nov. 22, the NPF central youth wing has decided and hereby declare that the ongoing sit-in protest will be suspended, not called off, with effect from this afternoon,” announced the youth wing’s vice president, Achamo Kikon, as the protest entered the 14th day today. He, however, said the protest will resume anytime after the general convention.
Several MLAs, NPF central officials and NCP president joined the youth protesters, extending their solidarity to the cause of the remonstration.
NPF leaders talk forgiveness for the sake of future
NPF working president Apong Pongener today called it unfortunate that the 12th NLA has been facing crisis after crisis since 2014 and the people were suffering today because leaders were not trying to learn from past mistakes. Nevertheless, hinting at the possibility of reconciliation among some of the leaders from the two rival NPF groups (one led by Liezietsu and the other by Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio), Pongener shared his observation that ‘realisation was slowly taking place’ and the party will keep its door open.
“In politics, we all know there is no permanent enemy or permanent friends. That, we have experienced, and we are looking forward that we will not remain like this,” he stated, adding, “We have been getting good signals”.
Pongener also remarked that if ‘permanent peace’ does not come during or before Dec. 25, the state will definitely face assembly election in 2018 and NPF as a political party should be prepared for any eventuality. In case of election, he maintained, the goal is to get majority, thus to achieve this, all must unite and work together in the spirit of ‘forget about the past because the future is more important’.
Meanwhile, lauding the youth wing for taking the trouble to put together its sit-in protest, the party leader stated that it has given out a big message across the country. He pointed out that considering the significance of the forthcoming general convention, it was imperative that the youth must support in the preparations with the same vigour.
MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu, in his address at the protest site, asserted that the youth wing’s protest had achieved something even though there had not been any positive result from the NLA Speaker’s office. He expressed hope that good sense would prevail in the speaker’s mind and that he would come out with some positive results in the near future.
Nienu also admitted that the 12th House is totally in chaos because of ‘disrespect for one another’. He alleged that everyone wanted the ‘highest position’ regardless of seniority or calibre, and this is where everything is going wrong. Stating that it is very important for a leader to have a ‘forgiving heart’, he asserted that if the leaders wanted to build a ‘stronger, better party in the near future and take over the government’, they will have to forgive and forget the past
“On a personal note, let us allow bygones to be bygones. Let us forget the bitter past, or rather, let us not recollect the bitter past and destroy our perfect future which lies ahead of us,” Nienu stated.
With the clear message sent out to the people through the NPF youth wing protest, he was confident that some positive developments will take place. He also talked about rebuilding whatever was lost, with forgiveness, to strengthen the party.
He said the sorry state of affairs that Nagaland is in, was exhibited through the way the governor, speaker as well bureaucrats totally rejecting his group’s pleas and cries. However, he stated that they became one step wiser as they have realised the values of justice.
MLA Yitachu lauded the youth wing for staying true to the NPF motto and carrying out one of the most peaceful yet powerful display of resentment projecting the rights of the people of the state. He claimed that the protest had shaken those in authority and even the government at the centre.
The protest has sent out a clear message that no governor in future would like to mess with rights of the people of Nagaland, Yitachu stated.
The politician expressed hope that the spirit of the NPF youth wing would inspire NGOs, civil society and even political parties that a peaceful approach is the most powerful approach, and violence is not the ultimate means to bring about solution over any matter.
He also wondered why Governor PB Acharya could not make any statement till today, except an appeal to the NPF that the issue was an internal party. Yitachu stated that it was because of the governor’s unconstitutional actions, that the entire state government machinery was being put under the radar of corruption. “Even the BJP which is running the government at the centre are not saying anything, and instead, they had come up to the extent of saying that they would not like to interfere in the internal party of NPF,” he said.
