IMPHAL, April 1: From time immemorial, Meiteis and Nagas have been peacefully living together as neighbours as brothers; however, Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh is Naga’s No 1 enemy.
The above statement was stated on Tuesday by Nagaland chief minister and Naga Peoples’ Front star campaigner in Manipur Neiphiu Rio, while addressing an election meeting in support of the NPF candidate Soso Lorho at Maha Union Higher Secondary School Ground in Chandel District.
He further said that CM Ibobi has been always trying to hurt the sentiments of the Nagas and other minorities. The Nagaland CM reiterated his 2013 election campaign statement declaring Ibobi as Naga’s No. 1 enemy.
The statement had prompted Manipur CM Ibobi and his cabinet to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India then.
Further according to him, In his reply to the ECI, he clarified that he was only identifying Ibobi as Naga’s enemy and not the whole Meitei community, which resulted in the ECI rejecting Ibobi’s plea.
This has only allowed him to return to Chandel for the campaign, he said.The Meitei-Naga relationship should be maintained for all time to come, he asserted.
He further said that Manipur CM Ibobi and his Home minister had tried t stop him from entering manipur during the launch of NPF in 2011.
However, he entered Manipur and launched NPF in Manipur by using his democratic rights under the provisions of Indian Constitution, he had claimed before adding that such activities was again meted out to him on March 29 last while he was coming to address an election meeting at Tamenglong by way of restricting to land his helicopter by Union home joint secretary Sambhu owing to an instruction from CM Ibobi.
However, he told that the issue was put up to the knowledge of ECI following which he was permitted to land in Chandel and mentioned the reason for not allowing him to land in Manipur because Ibobi was afraid of him as he would have told the truth on the issue of Naga.
He further said that he will go as MP by resigning from the post of Nagaland CM so that he could raise principle issues of the north east people and added that he will face the ethnic politics of the entire north east.
During the function, Soso Lorho said that NPF has given the confidence of the people and added that NPF is the party of the Nagas. Let us join together for the welfare of the Nagas, he concluded.