In the backdrop of repeated attacks against an intending candidate in Ukhrul in the last few days, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) on Thursday made an appeal for peace to all candidates, associates, parties, voters and other stakeholders in order to ensure a peaceful 2024 Lok Sabha Election.
Mention may be made here that armed persons had threatened a Congress intending candidate of Outer Manipur constituency Alfred Kanngam Arthur by firing several rounds of automatic gunfire in the vicinity of his campaign meetings held in Phangrei and Teinem on two occasions.
Alfred K Arthur is a Tangkhul Naga leader who represented Ukhrul constituency in the last assembly.
In another development, Naga People's Front (NPF) had named another Tangkhul K Timothy Zimik as its candidate in the Outer Manipur constituency on Wednesday. Timothy Zimik is a retired Indian Revenue Service officer hailing from Sanakeithel (Sinakeithei) village in Ukhrul district.
ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: NPF zeroes in on Timothy Zimik
“Nagas have come a long way in our collective journey of struggles and sacrifice and we continue to stand together in prayers,” it stated. “We have suffered enough bloodshed at the hands of our enemies in striving for just peace. Our land should not be treated as a war ground for gunfights by any parties contrary to the ideals of our Naga Nation that we espouse for,” it mentioned.
“We Tangkhuls, have evolved as a peace loving and peace guarding society by objectively weaving our differences and pluralities and it is crucial to preserve this tolerant character for our future generations. We need to collectively refocus on our ultimate goals of Naga Nation with greater perseverance, conviction and commitment in our collective strive for our Naga’s future above everything else,” TNL stated.
So far, three prominent Tangkhul leaders Rishang Keishing, R Suisa and Yangmaso Shaiza had represented Outer Manipur constituency in the past. Both Rishang Keishing and Yangmaso Shaiza went on to become chief minister of the state.
ALSO READ: Manipur Congress demands security for Alfred Kanngam Arthur
The other Naga MPs who represented the parliamentary constituency are Meijinlung Kamson and Mani Charanamei from Tamenglong district while the outgoing MP Lorho S Pfoze is a Mao Naga.
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Wednesday appealed to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manipur and the state government to initiate security protection measures for the prospective candidate Alfred Kanngam Arthur.
