New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) Several Northeast leaders including Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, today announced a single political identity and signed a statement declaring a united Northeastern front that will represent the entire Northeast.
At a meeting here amid chants of ‘one name, one symbol, one flag,’ the Northeast leaders vowed to turn that message into a political reality as they signed the statement declaring a united northeastern front — a single political entity representing the entire Northeast.
“We, the leaders from different states of the North East, have come together today to make a collective and historic announcement, which is the coming together of various voices of our region to form a united, singular political entity that truly represents the aspirations of our people,” read the statement.
The declaration made by the eminent political leaders from the North East was signed by Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya and National President, National People’s Party (NPP), Pradyot Bikram Manikya, Founder, TIPRA Motha Party, Mmhonlumo Kikon, Former BJP National Spokesperson & Minister in the Government of Nagaland, and Daniel Langthasa, Founder, People’s Party, Assam.
Calling themselves “the younger generation leaders in the Northeast,” Manikya said that for too long they had spoken about the same issues and concerns of the people but from different platforms and political spaces. “Now the time has come to give our people one collective voice,” he added.
Charting the future course of the United Front, Manikya said a committee will be constituted to deliberate on the future course of action, including the modalities and structure of the proposed political entity.
The leaders emphasised “the united platform will be guided by the simple conviction that the people of the North East deserve to be heard, respected and represented through a strong, unified, and indigenous political voice at the national level.”
Expanding on the next steps, the leaders highlighted that, as per the committee’s mandate, they will now reach out to individual leaders and other political parties in the Northeast with a similar mindset to strengthen this platform and entity, working together on the common issues affecting its people.
Dismissing the concerns of contesting against the established national parties, including the BJP or Congress, Manikya said, “We are not here to contest against anybody, … we are trying to create a platform or the entity that the North East today needs.”
The founder of TIPRA Motha said many issues facing the region extend beyond the Northeast — and even beyond national borders — making it difficult to fight them in isolation.
“By standing together, we can mount a stronger fight for our rights, for the protection of our indigenous people and their identity, for the preservation of our culture, and for the overall progress and economic growth of the Northeast,” he said.
