Neiphiu Rio, the Chief Minister of Nagaland, highlighted the importance of creating a common “Pan-Naga” platform to unify the Naga people’s voices while attending the Lui-Ngai-Ni festival in Ukhrul, Manipur, themed “Cultural Renaissance.” He explained that unity should respect diversity and called for a strengthened collective political voice among the Naga population. The festival, organized by the State Level Organising Committee under the United Naga Council and hosted by the Tangkhul Naga Long, featured Rio as the chief guest alongside Manipur’s Deputy Chief Minister, Losii Dikho, who was honored at the event. Rio unveiled the Lui-Ngai-Ni 2026 Monolith during the celebrations.
Rio referenced the historical aspirations for the integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas, recalling resolutions passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 1964 to 2018. He acknowledged the complexity of the broader Naga political situation, which remains unresolved despite ongoing dialogue influenced by the 2015 Framework Agreement and 2017 Agreed Position. While there is no final settlement yet, the peace process is still dynamic, as evidenced by a consultative meeting in September 2024 supporting key resolutions from 61 Naga organizations and 226 individuals.
Rio underscored the continued need for unity while awaiting a lasting solution, emphasizing that celebrations like Lui-Ngai-Ni enhance communal togetherness and peace. The festival involves the blessing and distribution of seeds, which Rio likened to sowing seeds of unity and cooperation. He also framed Lui-Ngai-Ni as a crucial moment for reaffirming Naga identity and honoring traditions while praying for agricultural abundance.
He noted the recent merger of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party and the Naga People’s Front into a unified political entity as a significant milestone in the Naga’s political journey and congratulated Losii Dikho on his Deputy Chief Minister role. Losii Dikho urged Naga tribes to advocate for peace and to overcome divisions, while Ng Lorho, President of the United Naga Council, described Lui-Ngai-Ni as a critical start to the agricultural year, invoking blessings for prosperity. The ceremony included leaders from various tribes and legislators, reflecting a communal pledge towards unity and shared cultural heritage, as demonstrated by the seed distribution to representatives of 21 Naga tribes by Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long president, Kashung Tennyson.
