Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in an election meeting in Manipur flayed Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh for playing divide-and-rule politics among the minority communities in the State. Mr. Rio was speaking to the people at the mini-stadium in Senapati district on Wednesday in Soso Lorho’s — candidate in the reserved Outer Manipur constituency — election meeting. Mr. Rio and Mr. Lorho are contesting the Lok sabha polls on Naga People's Front (NPF) tickets in Nagaland and Manipur respectively.
For quite sometime, Mr. Rio has launched public attacks against Mr. Ibobi in a number of functions in
Manipur. However, the latter has not retaliated.
Mr. Rio said if Mr. Lorho is elected, he will do everything possible for speedy economic development in the State. He also added that the persisting political conflict is the cause for the lack of development among the minorities. The Nagaland Chief Minister also appealed to the people for unity so that they could overcome the racist attacks against the northeast people living in Delhi.
Describing the Manipur Chief Minister as an enemy of NPF, he said that when this party tried to contest the last Assembly elections in Manipur, Mr. Ibobi wanted to obstruct their participation, but was unsuccessful.
The NPF had secured 4 seats in the Manipur Assembly (which has 60 MLAs).
