GoI has ruled out separate State for ENPO, says Azo
Even as the Government of India has rejected the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) demand for creation of ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state, the State cabinet on Tuesday appealed to the ENPO to re-examine/reconsider its demand in the greater interest of Nagas as a whole.
The cabinet which met here to deliberate on the issue of ‘non participation’ in the forthcoming assembly election by February or March this year also discussed the ENPO demand for separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’.
After the cabinet meeting, State government spokesperson and Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs minister Neiba Kronu informed media persons that since solution of the decades-old Naga political issue was top priority, the cabinet decided to appeal to ENPO in the larger interest of securing an early solution.
Meanwhile, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) co-chairman and NPF Legislature Party Leader Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu disclosed to media persons, that three-member Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) team headed by advisor (North East) AK Mishra had ruled out creation of a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ as demanded by ENPO.
He said that this was informed at the cabinet meeting by a member of Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU).
Azo further clarified that the State cabinet had never adopted any resolution nor recommended creation of a separate State by referring to the July 23, 2011 cabinet decision where it reaffirmed integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas.
Accordingly, Azo said the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) adopted four resolutions in this regard. “Till today we stand by that,” Azo stated.
Azo said that instead, the State Cabinet had recommend granting of Autonomous Council for eastern Nagaland but that this was rejected by the ENPO, so the matter ended there.
He said that the main factor behind the ENPO statehood demand was “development and financial assistance”.
Azo remarked that it was a genuine demand which should be looked into but not at the cost of dividing Nagaland.
He said ENPO and the Home Ministry (MHA) team would be meeting this week again.
Though the state government was unaware of what Central government would be recommending for ENPO, Azo said that the state government will support any recommendation of the Centre recommend but at the same time, it should also be made known to the state.
On ENPO’s resolution to abstain from taking part in the Assembly elections, Azo asserted that election was a constitutional mandate and, that once Election Commission of India (ECI) announces the poll schedule, it will be mandatory for all political parties to take part in the elections.
“We are waiting for the Election Commission to announce the date and we are mentally prepared,” he added.
Meanwhile, highly placed sources informed Nagaland Post that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was monitoring the situation in Nagaland.
Though there have been speculations about deferment of State Assembly polls, the Election Commission of India has reportedly sanctioned deployment of 50 companies of Central forces for election duty.