Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) rejected the Nagaland Backward Tribes Commission (NBTC) set up by the state government.
Narrating the sequence of events, ENSF president, Sepili L. Sangtam and general secretary, Imtichoba Chang in a letter to the chief minister reminded that the state government and ENSF had jointly agreed on August 13, 2015, to sign an Agreement, wherein the government had agreed in principle to constitute the Commission with special focus for six backward tribes of Eastern Nagaland, and had also agreed to work out the modalities of the Commission jointly.
However, it said the government conveniently failed to consider the agreement and intentionally ignored the federation when constituting the Commission.
In this regard, ENSF along with six federating units, unanimously resolved not to accept the constitution of the commission in its present form until necessary corrective measures were initiated, in consonance with the previous agreement.
ENSF further demanded that the government initiate a rectification process immediately so that the “gentlemen’s agreement” was upheld, honored and respected by both the parties. ENSF demanded that the same be completed within 10 days (w.e.f. November 24, 2017) and re-introduced in the Winter Session of the NLA. Failing to accept and fulfill the genuine demand, ENSF stated that the federation will be compelled to initiate its own course of action.