Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang urged NPF party rank and file including party legislators to re-commit themselves to the cause of peace and development, instead of pursuing individual interests.
Zeliang said this while addressing the highest forum of the party- Central Executive Council- at the meeting held at the NPF central office headquarter Kohima on Friday.
He reminded the gathering that NPF has to be developed into a mass-based organisation with strong foundation at the grass-root level so that no “political storm or cyclone” could uproot the party, since the strength of the party’s government was drawn from the party organization.
Zeliang also cautioned party members against the negative attitude of gossip and ‘back stabbing’ .
Extending welcome to eight former Congress legislators, and one legislator each from NCP and JDU who joined NPF, besides all the NPF party and DAN allies including old and new party workers; Zeliang called upon all of them to work as a new team with the sole objective of strengthening the party and winning the next election.
He also reminded them about their responsibilities as leaders of the oldest, the strongest and the most consistent regional party in the North East region.
Framework:
Zeliang said CEC of the NPF had formally welcomed the “framework agreement” signed between government of India and NSCN (IM) on August 3,2015 and appealed the members to support it with the hope and pray, that some positive and concrete development would take place within this year.
Describing the internal crisis last year as a misfortune and disaster, Zeliang said that it instead became a blessings in disguise, with the emergence of an opposition less house for the first time in the history of Nagaland.
He opined that the development has placed the party in a better position to give stronger push towards peaceful resolution of the vexed Naga political issue.
Giving the presidential address, NPF President Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu said that in his political journey, he had never come across a political crisis as the one in 2015, which he described as most unfortunate. However, after having overcome it, he urged all party rank and file to learnt a lesson from the past mistakes .
Dr.Shurhozelie reminded that in politics, one had to be broadminded and magnanimous in interest of the . He pointed out that in a big party like NPF, democracy cannot survive unless everyone learnt to appreciate and respect each other.
About reconciliation between two groups within NPF held last year, Dr. Shürhozelie said it was without condition and in the principle of ‘give and take’ and also ‘forgive and forget’. Dr.Shurhozelie also informed that he had withdrawn suspension on nine legislators and ‘disqualification petitions’ against those legislators who left the government . He said crisis has done caused much damage the fair name of the party which had been built through toil, tears and sweat of the elders. He therefore, urged all that it was time that all came together and heal the wounds.
He also said the coming together of all 60 legislators under one common platform was most significant. He said the 60 Naga legislators have the mandate of the people of Nagaland and have shown exemplary display in demonstrating their desire for unity, peace and political settlement.
He congratulated chief minister under whose leadership the feat was achieved as it had never happened before and cannot be expected to happen in future. He felt the coming together had also impressed the central government to look afresh the importance of a political settlement.
He also reminded the gathering that Manipur general election was scheduled by early 2017 and the NPF achievement in the last autonomous district council election where the party formed district councils in all the three major districts .He informed that the four NPF MLAs in Manipur submitted their resignation to the speakers in protest against the passing of three bills in the Manipur legislative assembly which created record demonstrating the party’s stand and put the interest of the people first.
Former president JD (U) Nagaland Mhonjan Humtsoe and former president NCP Nagaland Er. T.L. Semdok also addressed the gathering.
The function was chaired by working president NPF Apong Pongener, invocation prayer said by Rev. Kuzierang Thou state chaplain, welcome address was delivered by Anungba Imsong, special song was presented by Keyiekhrienuo, vice president NPF women wing central.
The meeting was attended by host of ministers, parliamentary secretaries, MLAs, NPF party from Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, party workers from various units and others.
In the 2nd session secretary general NPF K.G. Kenye chaired the business session.
Merger was on political grounds: SI Jamir
PTI Adds: Advisor Urban Development and former Congress stalwart, S.I. Jamir said the eight Congress legislators had decided to merge with NPF considering all aspects of Naga political issue.
“In politics anything may happen anytime… Having served a particular party (Congress), including being the president through the best part of life, it was not a very easy decision, but considering all the aspects of the Naga issue, we decided to merge with NPF,” Jamir said.
He said in every election, the first manifesto for each party is solution of Naga political problem and it still stands valid.
The Naga political problem is above all the political constraints and “we look forward that through this union, solution will be quickened to some extent,” he said. “We have to brilliantly bring about development to the satisfaction of the people,” he said and therefore called upon the NPF legislators to re-dedicate themselves to achieve the goal.
Erstwhile, presidents of JD (U) Mhonjan Humtsoe and NCP Er T L Semdok also spoke on similar lines and appealed to the NPF workers to re-dedicate themselves to strengthen the Party leadership.