The Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Thursday celebrated the 76th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Niathu Resort, with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio highlighting the Centre’s focus on the North-East and calling for unity among the ruling alliance partners.

Addressing the gathering, Rio extended birthday greetings to Modi on behalf of the Nagaland government, ruling alliance and people of the state, and credited his leadership with bringing the North-East closer to the centre of India’s developmental and strategic focus.

Rio said the region had witnessed sustained engagement from the Union government, including visits by Union Ministers and senior officials to review projects and interact with communities. He also pointed to initiatives including PM-DevINE and SASCI, besides infrastructure and connectivity programmes, as having helped Nagaland address long-standing development gaps.

The Chief Minister said Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047” should also translate into a developed, peaceful and prosperous Nagaland. He said the state needed to focus on connectivity, education, healthcare, youth opportunities, agriculture, tourism, entrepreneurship, sports and stronger institutions, alongside lasting peace.

On the ruling alliance, Rio said the PDA comprising the NPF, BJP, NPP, JD(U), RPI (A) and LJP (RV) must remain stable, united and focused on governance. He said political partnership should ultimately translate into public service and development reaching every district, tribe, village and section of society.

Rio also acknowledged continuing challenges of connectivity, unemployment, infrastructure and economic development in Nagaland. He said the state would continue to work with the Government of India towards an “inclusive, honourable, acceptable and lasting resolution” of the Naga political issue.

Recalling his long association with Modi, Rio referred to their years as Chief Ministers and their interactions over the Naga political issue, including around the signing of the 2015 Framework Agreement. He said Modi had personally reached out to him at the time and expressed interest in lasting peace in Nagaland.

The birthday programme was attended by Rio, NPF legislators, representatives of the BJP and other alliance partners, along with party functionaries and guests.