Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, along with Lok Sabha member Tokheho Yepthomi, on Thursday called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House in New Delhi and conveyed the desire of the Nagas for an early settlement to the vexed, decades-old Naga political issue.
According to an official statement issued to the media on Friday, Rio informed Modi that Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation had organized peaceful marches across all districts of the State on December 12 and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Governor and Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts seeking an early and inclusive solution.
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The Chief Minister also expressed his appreciation to the Prime Minister for the NDA government’s commitment towards resolving the long-pending Naga political issue, for which Government of India (GoI) had been negotiating with NNPGs.
Raising the issue of Chiethu airport at Kohima, Rio reminded Modi that it was a commitment of then Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee that all state capitals should have an airport.
Comparing the airport project with the Silchar-Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway project, he said the estimated cost of the proposed Ciethu airport was much less compared to the railway project. He expressed anguish over the delay in sanctioning the airport and hoped the Prime Minister would personally intervene in the matter.
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Rio further urged the Prime Minister to release the pending amount due to the State under the erstwhile SPA as some of those projects had already been completed, while others were on the verge of completion.
Prime Minister Modi had assured Rio that he would take up the matters with the concerned ministries.