FNTA: ENPO defers rally, says MoA non-negotiable

Defers July 10 rally, August 6 CEC to decide next step

Tuensang, July 7 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) on Tuesday announced the deferment of its proposed public rally scheduled for July 10, following appeals from the Nagaland state government, a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) convenor. 

The decision comes after the state government issued a press statement on July 6 indicating its intent to convene a special session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) to address the pending Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNTA) issue.

In a statement released by its Media Cell, the ENPO acknowledged the state government’s decision to focus on the FNTA matter, expressing satisfaction over the attention being given to the long-pending demand. However, the organisation clarified that the rally has only been deferred for the time being and that a Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting has been convened for August 6, 2026, to take further necessary decisions.

Reiterating its firm stance, the ENPO described the signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) as “sacred and sacrosanct,” emphasising that it represents a solemn tripartite commitment between the ENPO, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the Government of Nagaland (GoN). The organisation underscored that the MoA’s provisions must be respected and implemented without deviation. “There is moral and ethical obligation upon all the parties of the tripartite agreement to see that there is no breach of trust after an agreement,” it emphasised. 

The ENPO drew particular attention to Clause 3.3 of the MoA, which mandates consultation between the state government and the MHA regarding the passing of “special legislation” and it clearly reveals that the legislation is “”special and not usual.” The organisation asserted that this consultation is strictly limited to the enactment of such legislation” and cannot be used otherwise. It maintained that modifying the core principles or to omit some core principle of the MOA is out of the scope of consultation. “Upholding the spirit of Art 371A of the Indian Constitution and the provisions of the MoA is clearly mentioned,” it reiterated. 

The ENPO maintained that the MoA creates a distinct legislative domain for the FNTA and does not delegate legislative powers, further stating that the outcome of the consultation will reveal the “political will” of both the central and state governments.

The ENPO stressed that implementing the MoA in letter and spirit would align with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,” aiming to bring the people of Eastern Nagaland into the mainstream of Viksit Bharat by 2047 with dignity, peace and development.