Nagaland Rio reiterates NPF’s role as guardian of Naga identity

State chief minister and NPF president, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, on Saturday reiterated that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) is the guardian that upholds the identity and cultural values of the Naga people, asserting that the coming together of the two regional political parties was a result of God’s grace and will.
According to NPF press bureau, Dr. Rio said this while addressing the reception programme for the secretary general at the new NPF Central office headquarters.
Dr. Rio reaffirmed the party’s commitment to regional unity and protection of Naga identity. He delivered an address tracing the party’s formation, evolution, and future goals, saying the NPF’s journey since its formation in 1963 and its first election in 1964 had been guided by “God’s grace, the prayers of believers, and the wisdom of elders.”
Dr. Rio said that although the Nagas were a small group, “no one has conquered us,” adding that the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act of 1873 and Article 371(A) of the Constitution continue to protect Naga land, culture, and customary laws. “We are here to protect the rights of the Nagas. While we are under the Constitution of India, many provisions of the 16-Point Agreement remain unfulfilled, and we must continue to fight for them,” he stated.
Recalling his early years as a youth leader and his role in the formation of the Nagaland People’s Front in 2002, later renamed the Naga People’s Front (NPF) to include Nagas from Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, Dr. Rio said, “When we formed the NPF, we had nothing but determination. By God’s blessing and people’s support, we built this party brick by brick.”
Referring to the recent merger between NPF and NDPP legislators, he termed it a “historic unification” symbolising Naga solidarity. “The coming together of 32 MLAs with 2 MLAs is symbolic of unity and purpose. We are returning to the mainstream historical party that stood for the Nagas,” he said.
Dr. Rio also spoke about the change of the state emblem from the Ashoka Chakra to the Mithun, describing it as a symbol of Naga pride and unity. “Our new state motto, Unity, represents our strength. Oneness makes us strong and earns us respect,” he said. Cautioning against greed and division, he remarked, “God or nature can provide for our needs, but not our greed. Greed blinds us and divides us.”
He urged party members to uphold discipline, humility, and a sense of duty in serving the people. “To be in a regional party is not easy—it is a burden and a sacrifice. But fighting for the Nagas is our responsibility,” he stated. Dr. Rio expressed gratitude to party colleagues and noted that while he would eventually retire as the 10th president of NPF, “the legacy, ideology, and principles must live on through the younger generations.”
Calling upon party leaders to bury all hatred and start afresh, he reminded that the party serves not individuals but the people, and therefore, “serving the people should be our priority.”
In his address, NPF secretary general Achumbemo Kikon, MLA said the NPF was not just a political party that contests elections but a movement for the Naga people. He urged party workers to prioritise the party’s aims, objectives, ideology, and principles in all their work, adding that the unification of the two regional parties was made possible through “God’s will, people’s cooperation, and the boldness of the Chief Minister.”
The programme concluded with closing remarks by NPF working president Ahovi Zhimomi, who urged members to work in unity and strengthen the NPF’s foundation for future generations. Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by NPF working president H. Chuba Chang while Rev. Phomlee Van, pastor of Phom Baptist Church, offered the invocation prayer and prayed for the new NPF Central office headquarters.