Morung express News
Dimapur | February 26
Earlier, this month, the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) and Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) came out with contradictory statements concerning a ‘draft proposal’ from the Government of India on the proposed Frontier Naga Territory (FNT). While the ENLU said that frontal organisations of eastern Nagaland, including the ENPO, rejected the draft, the ENPO maintained that it did not comment on the draft nor reject it since it was still to get a copy from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), officially.
Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, on February 26, acknowledged the state government receiving the draft from the MHA. As reported by AIR news Kohima, Monday, Rio disclosed that the draft was handed to him by Home Minister Amit Shah for discussion with the elected Members and ENPO.
While acknowledging the contradictory statements from the ENLU and ENPO, Rio said that the MHA proposal appeared to be on the line of a “power sharing” arrangement. According to him, the onus was on the ENPO to accept, if not, it is the ENPO’s prerogative to communicate to the MHA directly, since they are already engaged in talks.
Rio also informed that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly will be taking up for discussion, the issue of the Free Movement Regime on the India-Myanmar border.
On the state government’s stand in the event of a final “honourable, acceptable and inclusive” settlement to the Naga political issue, he said that the present government is ready to pave the way for a new arrangement.
