MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF NAGALAND FROM
SHRI ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE
Former Prime Minister of India
And
SHRI L.K. ADVANI
Former Deputy Prime Minister of India
Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha)

My dear Naga brothers and sisters,

Our hearty greetings to all of you.

We can never forget the love and affection you have showered on us during our visits to Nagaland. We deeply cherish our interactions with the elected representatives of Nagaland and also with various Naga leaders during the six-year rule of the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre. We fully understand that the overwhelming desire among Naga people is for a permanent peace with honour, dignity and respect for Naga history and culture.

It is this understanding which guided all the sincere and sustained efforts of the NDA government to ensure speedy and meaningful progress of the peace process. A lot of progress was, indeed, achieved for which we heartily thank the people of Nagaland and their leaders.

Nagaland is going to the polls to elect a new Assembly on 5 March 2008. Much depends on the strengthening of the democratic process in your state, since it is inextricably linked to our commonly cherished goals of peace and development. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded candidates in the Assembly elections. The BJP is tried and tested. Our party’s commitment to ensuring a better future for Nagaland has been proven.

Peace is a precondition for development. Without development, there can be no employment. The BJP's goal, both in Nagaland and in the rest of India, is to remove poverty, social disparities and regional imbalances, and enhance the quality of life of all citizens, irrespective of their religious, ethnic or linguistic affiliations. The BJP assures you that our candidates, when elected, will do their utmost to further these objectives.

We appeal to you to elect BJP candidates in large numbers.

Once again, our best wishes to all of you.