No Force Can Stop Nagas From Living Together- Dr Shurhozelie

Kohima, Dec 31 : Naga People’s Front President Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu has stated that no force can stop Nagas from living together, while calling upon the United Naga Council (UNC) to come out openly and extent its support toward the fight for the rights of the Naga people.

Dr Shürhozelie, who is also Nagaland Minister of Urban Development and Higher and Technical Education and now on a campaign tour for the forthcoming Manipur Assembly elections, said the forthcoming assembly elections in Manipur in January 2012 would be a referendum on whether Nagas live united as a family.

Speaking at an interaction with various tribal hohos and United Naga Council(UNC) at the NPF Manipur unit office at the district headquarters of Senapati in Manipur, he said no one could stop Nagas from living together and reminded that the forthcoming assembly election was an opportunity for Nagas in Manipur to decide, according to NPF party sources at Kohima today.

He stressed that NPF was for good relationship with various communities, political parties and organisations both underground and over ground but asserted that no one would be allowed to dictate terms upon Nagas.

Dr Shürhozelie revealed that the main purpose of the NPF was to defeat incumbent Okram Ibobi Singh. He urged all Naga organisations and church of Manipur to support NPF candidates in the forthcoming polls.

He said NPF in Manipur has received applications from candidates for 14 assembly seats while there was no ticket aspirant from Kuki dominated areas.

He however said NPF could make some seat adjustments with other political parties in Kuki dominated areas.

Dr Shürhozelie also asserted that it was not necessary to always talk about being suppressed by the Meiteis and challenged the Nagas in Manipur to work in such a way that they exert themselves as a force.

Stating that this time they are contesting in only 14 constituencies, he however pointed out that the hill area has 20 seats and if all can come together and work together then 20 people in a 60 member house will become a formidable force. They can make their presence felt in the Assembly, their voice will be heard and that is all we want, the NPF president said.

Altogether 55 out of the total 56 aspiring candidates including two women who had applied for NPF party ticket from 14 different assembly constituencies of Manipur attended yesterday’s function.

All aspiring candidates made a public pledge to remain loyal to the NPF party’s ideologies and support those who would eventually get party tickets.