Naga People’s Front (NPF) president Shurhozelie Liezietsu on Thursday asserted that his party is committed to bringing peace in Nagaland.
“Peace can be brought to the state through settlement of the Naga problem,” he said.
Liezietsu was speaking at a programme after inaugurating the new building of the Dimapur division of NPF at Landmark colony here.
He urged the party workers to strengthen and renew their commitment for settlement of the Naga issue.
However, Liezietsu pointed out that the “main players” in the settlement of the issue are the government of India and the NSCN. He added: “We are just playing the role of a facilitator to resolve the issue.”
He said the NPF would continue to endeavour to make people understand the importance of resolution of the issue and hoped good sense would prevail.
Liezietsu said that the regional party was born with lots of tear tears and sweat when Nagaland was on fire with the purpose to bring peace in Nagaland.
The NPF patriarch affirmed that the party would continue to work till it achieves its goal for settlement of the Naga issue.
He said the NPF, the second oldest party in the country after the DMK of Tamil Nadu, is a party of the people which does not crave for power.
“We will seek power but that is not the priority,” he said.
He said many regional parties were formed in Nagaland to usurp power in the past but they all disappeared.
Likewise, the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, which is going strong now, will disappear in line with those regional parties, he said.
Liezietsu asked the NPF workers not be discouraged because the party is in opposition now.
“This is just a temporary phase. We have a long-term plan. We will take over the government after the next Assembly election,” he asserted.
He also said the “opposition life”, which is not new to the party, is not very pleasant.
“This is the time to prove your integrity towards the people and the state.
“Be content what you have in hand and play your part, which will measure your integrity,” he advised the party workers.
A party can survive in different weather when it is steady and committed to its purpose, Liezietsu added.
Rajya Sabha MP and NPF sectary general K.G. Kenye said the NPF is the grand old party of the Northeast and the second oldest regional party in the largest democracy of the world after the DMK of Tamil Nadau.
“We are fortunate to have inherited this legacy. Let’s not destroy this platform and carry forward the torch to hand over to the future generation,” Keney appealed to the party workers.
He admitted that the infighting within the party leaders during the last part of the party’s 15-year rule took its toll. Let that be the end, he said and urged the party workers to hold on to the principles of the party which was born for solution of the Naga issue.