IMPHAL, April 6 – The Naga National Party (nnp), a Manipur-based regional political party is aiming for an emotional integration of Naga tribes in the region. However, the party would not directly support the decision of Naga Hoho, the apex body of Naga tribes, but will “honour” their decision for a common cause. This was stated by Ng Hungyo, president of the nnp, and its candidate for the up and coming 14th Lok Sabha polls in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency Valley Rose Hungyo during a meet-the-press programme here at the State Information Office Conference Hall on Sunday afternoon.
Valley Rose is one of the seven candidates in fray for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency seat in the upcoming 14th Lok Sabha wherein nearly eight lakh electorates will be casting their votes on April 20 to choose their representative in the 14th Lok Sabha of the country. Valley Rose commented that the present tension in the State is caused by the identity crisis and rights violation that each community is facing, and added that every community, whether it is the Naga, Kuki or Meitei, has its own identity, culture, rights and aspirations. Mutual recognization and respect as fellow-human beings irrespective of the community is the need of the hour, she felt, adding : “We need to go beyond the artificial divide-and-rule policies that are creating suspicion among all.”
The 40-plus Tangkhul Naga lady who edits a Tangkhul dialect daily Aja in Imphal, reacting to a question, informed that her party would “honour” all resolutions taken by the Naga Hoho on common Naga political issues as going against it would be the prerogative of the party, she added. On the question of nnp’s programmes and policies, she said that they are directed for the uplift of the Nagas. She also explained that although her party uses the word ‘Naga’ yet its work will be directed to all communities for a peaceful coexistence in Manipur.
Highlighting the activities of the party, nnp president Ng Hungyo said that his party was established in 1997 after consultations with leaders of different communities settling in the State including the Naga tribes and the majority Meiteis. Asserting that peace and peaceful coexistence among all communities are necessary, he stated that the nnp desires to mediate between both the “anti-Indo-Naga” ceasefire group and the “pro-ceasefire” units in the State for a harmonious coexistence in the State. There are around 30 ethnic groups in Manipur.
Apart from taking up other social and developmental issues, the party is having a list of follow-up programmes in its manifesto in maintaining the identity of the Nagas in letter and spirit, while respecting others’ in the same spirit, unification of all the Naga factions and thereby help in the Naga national reconciliation process and help in bringing about an honourable negotiated settlement between the the Government of India and the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (nscn-im) in its manifesto.
Besides the nnp is aiming to work for more common issues like unconditional talks between the Government of India and other underground organisations in ne region to solve the insurgency problem in the region, illegal immigration into the region, establisment of a Tribal Dialect Research Academy and contrucution of a second building for the Manipur Legislative Assembly in any of the five hill districts in Manipur. Valley Rose is contesting the Lok Sabha polls for the third time this year. She lost twice in the past two LS polls in 1989 and 1996 from the Outer Parliamentary constituency of the State. Manipur is having only two Parliamentary constituencies viz., the Inner and the Outer seats. In the Inner Parliamentary seat, polling would be held on April 26 though the polling for the Outer seat is scheduled on April 20.