FNTA issue ‘almost resolved’: Rio

Nagaland chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio on Friday said the issue of the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) was “almost resolved” and that the state government was now awaiting the Centre to prepare and deliver the final draft.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Kohima, Rio said that from the State’s side all matters had been sorted out and there was no further hurdle.
He disclosed that Union home minister Amit Shah had recently deputed a team comprising the Union home secretary, director of Intelligence Bureau, joint secretary (North East) and other senior officials to hold detailed discussions with the state government.
According to Rio, a full-length meeting was held with the delegation, followed by another round of talks which he himself had with the central team. He stated that the meetings were “accomplished” and that the process was now at the stage where the Centre would bring out the final draft of the arrangement. Rio said he had also been asked to hold one more meeting in Delhi during his next visit, but maintained that the substantive issues had already been resolved.
When asked whether the final agreement was likely to be signed by October, Rio said for the state government all matters had been clarified and it was now for the Centre to arrange and present the final draft for consideration.