NPF seeks sops under Art 371(A)
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India

Kohima, December 12 2013: The Naga People's Front (NPF) today urged the Centre to implement the special provisions as guaranteed to the people of the state under Article 371(A) of the Constitution.

The special provisions with respect to Nagaland were inserted in Article 371 (A) as the outcome of the agreement between the Naga People Convention and Government of India while granting statehood in 1963, a six point resolution adopted at NPF's golden jubilee celebration here said.

On the unresolved Naga political process, the NPF convention said that it was now 17 years since the current ceasefire and peace process started, but the yearnings of the Naga people for a permanent and honourable solution remained unfulfilled and proved elusive for more than half a century.

It therefore urged the GoI to implement the provisions of the agreement in letter and spirit.

The NPF also impressed upon negotiating parties to expedite the peace process to its logical conclusion at the earliest.

The convention also welcomed the recent formation of North East Regional Parties Front (NERPF) while appreciating the initiatives and efforts of the Assam Gana Parishad in this area.

The NPF hoped that the convergence of the like minded regional political parties would usher a new era of peace and development in the North East region and also bring about better unity and fraternal relationship.

The convention said that NPF as a grass-root based political party was committed to a policy of inclusiveness, with special attention to development of backward regions and the weaker sections, including the development and empowerment of the youth, women and farmers.

In commemoration of the 50 years of existence of the regional party in the state, the convention resolved to continue upholding its principles and ideologies.

The convention also honoured the pioneers of the regional party, which started as the Democratic Party of Nagaland and after changes in its nomenclature was at present known as the Naga People's Front.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that Nagas have been divided into four states within India, Assam, Arunachal, Manipur and Nagaland, while a major chunk were in Myanmar.

He said that the NPF would continue to work toward the emotional, social, culture and political integration of the Naga people within and outside Nagaland.

"Nagas are less in number and if we do not unite Nagas will vanish," he said.

He said that Nagas should work to send their own leaders to Parliament one each from Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh 'so that our voices will be heard in the Parliament' .

He said that during the past fifty years of Nagaland statehood, much progress and development has taken place especially in education, health and agriculture.

The most significant achievement of the regional party government in the state was implementation of the policy of inclusiveness and grassroots participation in planning and implementation of government's projects.

He said that NPF being the oldest regional party in the North East, the jubilee celebration should be taken as an occasion to look ahead to the future with new challenges for a better future.

Rio said that the challenges should not be merely on paper, but should be backed up by carefully drawn up action plans to make the party cadre-based and disciplined that could withstand the test of difficult times.

The celebration were marked by cultural presentations by Naga tribes from Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

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