NDPP Youth Organization lashes out at NPF over ‘real Nagas’ comment

Kohima, 21 March (MTNews): Expressing surprise over the recent statements made by the senior NPF party leaders including its President, Secretary General and its Legislature Party Leader who claimed the NPF candidates as ‘real Nagas’, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) Youth Organization pointed out that the statement is a direct insult and demeaning to each and every candidate who participated in the recent elections.

“Such attitude also demeans the electorates and all the citizens of the State,” a press release from the Media Cell, NDPP Youth Organization stated.

Calling out the NPF’s ‘absurd’ claim that it is the ‘only regional party’ in Nagaland, the NDPPYO said it explained the mentality of its leadership and accused the party of living in their own time capsule without realizing that there has been generational changes and the world has moved on.

“They are obviously living in past glory and unable to accept the realities of the present times and the current generation. It is a universal truth that nothing stays the same and change is the only permanent assurance with time,” the NDPP youth organization added.

“Today the NDPP has emerged as the only viable regional political party in Nagaland,” the NDPP YO said, stating that “this is not a claim of the party but a reflection of the Naga people’s mandate and the voice of the masses.”

According to the youth organization, since 2018, the NDPP has won every election with bigger and larger margins. Saying that electoral results are the voice of the people and that the highest court of democracy is the process of elections, it asked the NPF to understand where it stands.

“The so-called oldest regional party contested only a handful of seats and won in only two seats in the recent assembly elections. They had given up even before the polls as they had no chance of forming the government since they had no possibility of reaching a majority on their own, nor did they have any alliance with any political party,” the NDPP YO said.

Further, they called the “manner in which they have written off the mandate of the people” an insult to the democratic process and disrespect to every member of Nagaland’s electorate, including those who voted for the NPF.

“Nagas are not purchasable commodities, rather due to the efforts of the present leadership, Nagaland continues to emerge as a unique state duly recognized at the national and international level,” the youth organization continued.

‘NDPP a regional party deeply rooted with the Nagas’

The NDPP YO reminded the NPF about how in 2019, despite having several MLAs, it failed to even field a candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, but rather extended support to the Congress Party candidate, even though it has a history of opposing the Congress and its policies for decades.

“The NPF president had weirdly claimed that a party which has an alliance with a national party is not a regional party. Did the NPF not withdraw its candidature and allied with the Congress and extended full support to the Congress party in 2019, going to the extent of sharing the platform with Rahul Gandhi? So in his vocabulary, is the NPF a regional party? It’s time for the leadership of the NPF to do deep introspection,” the release added.

It further asked the party to question themselves on the reasons as to why they have been rejected by the Naga people.

“Have they betrayed the confidence which the Naga people had once placed upon their party? Have they let down the high ideals of their past leaders? Perhaps this is a time for them to look inwards instead of pointing fingers at others. Leadership comes with responsibility and ultimately leaders are answerable to the people,” the NDPPYO continued.

As for the NDPP, they claimed, it is a regional party that is deep rooted with the Naga people and is regional in character and spirit, with a national outlook that has policies, programs and visions in tune with global realities.

“We carry the voice and desire of the Naga people and our topmost agenda is honorable resolution of the Naga political imbroglio in a peaceful, democratic and inclusive manner. Our highlighted policies include promotion of our rich culture, preservation of our age old traditions and internationalization of our tourism industry through our policy of “Land of Festivals”.

Constantly pushing Brand Nagaland to the national and international community through Naga Soft Power remains our daily aspiration. These are just some of the many reasons why we are a regional party deeply rooted in the Naga way of life,” the NDPPYO argued.

According to them, the NDPP forged alliances and partnerships with other national political parties based on mutual trust and collaboration to find roadmaps for development and progress for the entire state in an equitable manner.

“The NDPP is a participating and contributing member of the national political process and we continue to create avenues and platforms for our citizens, especially the youth, to contribute towards the nation building process. In today’s day and age, nobody can survive in isolation. This is why we are a regional political party that has a national outlook,” the NDPPYO stated.

Arguing that NDPP is a party that understands international dynamics and acts according to global needs, the NDPPYO said that it desires to take all sections of Naga society towards achieving excellence and realize success and recognition for the state’s citizens at national and global levels.

“The NDPP is a modern party with statesman leadership backed by a combination of experience and youth. We exemplify the today and the tomorrow of Naga society and we make serious efforts every day to be the political party that is the cutting edge of our society. We reflect the new found energy and the global ambition of the emerging generations of the Naga people.

Towards this aspiration, every Naga citizen across our homeland and beyond is equal partners and respected stakeholders. We are proud Nagas and carry the Naga aspirations that have stood the test of time since time immemorial,” the NDPPYO concluded.