MPP opposes Nephiu Rio's visit
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 27 2011:
Manipur People's Party (MPP) has opposed the proposed visit of a Naga People's Front (NPF) delegation led by Nagaland Chief Minister Nephiu Rio to Senapati district headquarters tomorrow to formally launch the Manipur unit of the party and called for putting an immediate end to the membership drive of NPF in Manipur.
Addressing a press conference at the office of MPP here today, Legislature Wing leader of the party MLA O Joy asserted that the proposed visit of an NPF delegation to Senapati under a hidden agenda of breaking the territorial integrity of Manipur which has come at a time when normalcy is yet to be fully restored after the crisis over the attempted entry of NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah to Manipur and the subsequent imposition of economic blockade will have a serious impact on the law and order situation of the State.
Denouncing NPF as a communal party, O Joy pointed out that NPF has been set up with the main objective of bringing together all the Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit and realise the dream of NSCN (IM).
So, it is a communal party which has been challenging the territorial integrity of the North Eastern States.
O Joy further denounced NPF as the enemy of the people of Manipur as well as other North Eastern States where there are Naga settlements.
After NSCN (IM) has failed to realise its dream of Greater Nagaland through armed movement, NPF has been set up to take political advantage and disturb peaceful co-existence among the different communities living in Manipur, O Joy alleged.
The MPP leader further disclosed that MPP has already written to the Election Commission of India requesting to cancel the recognition of NPF, which he described as unconstitutional and working against the territorial integrity of the North Eastern States.
If required, MPP would even go to the extent of challenging NPF in the Supreme Court, he added.
It would be wiser on the part of Nagaland Chief Minister Nephiu Rio and his NPF delegates to withdraw their decision of coming to Senapati to launch the Manipur unit of the party.
In case of failure to do so, there is no reason why they should not be regarded as people who are trying to break apart Manipur, O Joy observed.
All those who are trying to set up the office of NPF at Senapati as well as those who are thinking of becoming members of NPF to contest in the election and work against the interest of the people of Manipur, should stop their activities at once.
They should discard the habit of compromising the interest of Manipur for their own personal gain.