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Neiphiu Rio, Lok sabha MP and President of Naga People’s Front (NPF) arrives at the General Convention of the NPF in DImapur, Nagaland on Wednesday, 20 September 2017. [/caption]
Dimapur, Sep. 20 (EMN): Member of the Lok Sabha Neiphiu Rio has advised the Nagaland government to take seriously the imperative to “govern our people mindfully” and “deliver justice and take the people’s problems as our priority.”
Newly-inducted president of the Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) Neiphiu Rio was delivering the presidential address at the September 20 general convention of the party that was conducted at the DDSC stadium in Dimapur.
"As the party president, I think and I advise that we must govern our people mindfully and deliver justice and take the people's problem as our priority. Therefore we should run a transparent and corruption free government so that the targeted people get the benefit,” the former chief minister of Nagaland told a large gathering of NPF workers.
“There is always criticism for everything when in the government and if we don't run the government properly, every five years we will go to the people for their mandate." He has appealed to the elected representatives led by the Chief Minister TR Zeliang to ‘properly look after the welfare of the public.’ He had a word of caution for the political leaders: misusing power will ‘invite problems’ when they return to the people.
‘If they abuse power, then we will have problems when they go back to the people,’ he said. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that the NPF will deliver good governance and care for the people.
In other matters, Rio spoke of having been overwhelmed by the response of the party’s workers in reposing faith in his leadership. The gesture of the workers has emboldened him to work with more vigour for the development of the people, he told the gathering.
Addressing the extraordinary general convention, the Lok Sabha MP spoke about the formation of the NPF. He lamented the recent political crisis which he said gave rise to a situation where the former president became ‘dictatorial, autocratic, undemocratic and unconstitutional.’ In the process, Rio said, democracy was replaced by ‘autocracy’ which resulted in expulsion and suspension of party leaders. This flouted all norms of the party, he said; he expressed regret that in spite of the sacrifices he made in the past, he was met with ‘expulsion and humiliation.’ Rio quoted former US President John F Kennedy: “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
“For the last three and half years, the NPF party–to which I along with likeminded leaders set up – suspended me, humiliated me, insulted me, sidelined me and campaigned against me not only here in Nagaland but in Delhi also. In a way, it is good for me that I have learnt the reality of life,” Rio said in reflection.
Stating that such kind of happening was not in the interest of the party or the state, the MP said that the appeals from his friends and colleagues for revocation of his suspension and reconciliation was faced with the wrath of the party’s former president.
“It is because of his style of functioning that he has brought the crisis upon himself and the party,” Rio explained.
The new chief of the NPF also spoke briefly about the history of the party. He mentioned founding members such as A Kevichusa, Vizol, N Zao Angami, Jatheo Lotha, Takasosang, Supongwati, Tajenyuba and other leaders. He said that the Democratic Party (DP) was formed not only for Nagaland but for all other areas where Nagas were settled. He said that the party was registered with the Election Commission of India on November 29 in 1963. He said that the party underwent changes over the decades: from Democratic Party to United Front of Nagaland, United Democratic Front, Naga National Democratic Party, Nagaland People’s Council and then Naga People’s Front from July 28, 2009. Stating that although the party’s nomenclature was changed several times, he said that its policy, principles, symbol and motto remain unchanged.
With God’s blessings and the people’s support, he said that the NPF grew from strength to strength over the years and successfully spread to the states of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
Rio has also suggested amendment to the party’s constitution. He said that there was no clause to impeach, remove or suspend the president. In a democracy, he said, there should be a provision to remove anyone, no matter how big, if he or she does not work in the interest of the party and the people.
MP Neiphiu Rio also clarified his remark about an interim government in the case of a political settlement that was questioned by the Working Group of the six Naga National Political Groups in some local dailies.
He reminded that even in the case of the 16-point agreement that was signed in 1960, statehood was inaugurated only on Dec. 1, 1963. There was an interim body for that period of three years to "arrange the system" such as delimitation of constituencies, training for administration and completing other basic works needed before statehood.
Rio further said it is his opinion that even at present, if a political settlement is arrived at, although elections are due shortly, there will be an interim body to oversee the rearrangements of the seats in the Parliament and the respective state assemblies for Naga areas of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
To this end, he stated that he has been informed that the demand for the increase in the seats have been "agreed in principle".
He also stated that there will be economic packages, rehabilitations and various programmes that will arrive and after it is set then only will the people go for elections again as required in a democracy. He therefore urged all sections not to be confused with the issue of interim government.
He also reiterated that in any other platform including the Parliament he has been stating that the Naga people need a settlement, then only will it usher in peace and prosperity.
He further added that as per the wishes of all the people, that all have to be taken on board, the NPF party in its latest resolution has categorically mentioned the word inclusive in its demand for an early settlement.