The Naga People’s Front (NPF), the second oldest regional party in India and the oldest in Northeast India, today observed its 62nd Foundation Day at its Central Office in Kohima. Party President Apong Pongener, in his address, urged party members to reinvent their ideas and work collectively to revive the party and reclaim its past glory. Senior party leaders and legislators Kuzholuzo Nienu and Achumbemo Kikon also appealed to party functionaries not to lose heart but continue to work hard to regain the lost glory.
NPF president Pongener acknowledged that the party is currently passing through a challenging phase but assured that it will return to power in Nagaland sooner or later. Pongener said the NPF has become synonymous with Naga identity for the last 61 years.
Stating that the NPF is passing through a challenging phase, he reminded party workers that the party has faced even worse times in the past.
“In times such as this, we need concerted efforts to stand firm for the survival of the party,” he said, adding that it is not the time for negative mindset of blind criticism and accusing one another.
“It is time for each and every one of the party men and women to reinvent the thoughts and ideas for rejuvenation of the party to reclaim the past glory,” he added.
NPF has stood the test of time and while the party may be at the lowest ebb of its popularity at present, everything that exists in this world has its own time of recession and recovery, he said. “We are at a time of recession today, but the party shall come back to power sooner or later,” he added.
“Let us unite our hearts and dedicate once again to work harder together with sacrificial spirit for our better future,” Pongener said.
Kikon, who is also the secretary general of NPF, reminded party workers that the main objective of the party is to find an honourable, acceptable and inclusive solution to the vexed Naga political issue.
“We have been responding positively to the aspiration of the Nagas and always working for an early solution,” he said.
“NPF is a strong party and we will surely storm back to power and grow from strength to strength as this is the only regional political party which can safeguard the identity of the Naga people and voice for the rights of Nagas,” Kikon said.
NPF, which had changed the nomenclature for at least six times over the years but continued with ‘cock’ as the party symbol and ‘fide non armis’ (by faith not arms) as its motto, had run the affairs of the state for several times, with its last reign being from 2003 to 2013.
In the present Nagaland assembly, though, NPF has only two MLAs while in Manipur it has five MLAs. (With PTI inputs)