Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday said that any party forming the government at the Centre should not ignore the North East region.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Naga style wrestling championship at Kohima Local Ground, Rio, who is also the convenor of the North East Regional Political Forum (NERPF), said “Government in Delhi is running the country on party lines, which is not good for the country, as well as for democracy”.
Therefore, whoever comes to power, we (north east) have to collectively raise our voice and make them understand.
“They (Centre) cannot continue to ignore us, and if we are considered to be a part of the Indian Union they have to give us the due share by giving us a patient hearing. Nobody can ignore us,” he said.
Being the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) consensus candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland, Rio, given a chance to go to Delhi, asserted to take up Naga political issue and the problems of the North Eastern Region to Delhi, besides the problem of racism faced by the people of the region. On his desire to go to Delhi leaving the Chief Ministership in the state, he said “I was the one who offered and I am happy that the party (NPF) has endorsed my candidature.”
The chief minister claimed that every time North East or Nagaland is in the news for “wrong reasons” and the priority for him would be to raise voice to resolve the vexed Naga political issue. (PTI)