Urges ENPO to reconsider July 10 rally, shutdown
Reiterates Article 371(A) safeguards
DIMAPUR, JUL 6 (NPN): The Nagaland government on Monday issued a detailed statement explaining the steps taken towards the constitution of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), while announcing that it would convene a special session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to enact legislation for the authority. It also requested the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) to reconsider its proposed public rally and shutdown on July 10.
According to the Home department, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the constitution of the FNTA was signed on February 5, 2026, between the Government of India, Government of Nagaland and ENPO.
Soon after the signing of the MoA, it said the department of Law and Justice was tasked with drafting the FNTA Bill incorporating the provisions of the agreement. It stated that Clause 3.3 of the MoA provided for constitution of the FNTA under a special legislation to be enacted by the state government in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The statement said the draft Bill was placed before the Cabinet on February 26. Since the MoA envisaged legislative powers for the FNTA, the opinion of the Advocate General was sought. The Advocate General reportedly opined that legislative powers could not be conferred on the FNTA through a state legislation, observing that the state government did not possess the legislative competence to delegate powers equivalent to its own or transfer legislative authority to another body or authority.
Accordingly, the state government brought the opinion of the Advocate General and its observations on the issue to the notice of the MHA through a communication sent on March 6. A copy of the communication was also provided to the ENPO. Subsequently, on March 10, the MHA requested the state government to initiate action in terms of Clause 3.3 of the MoA and forward the draft proposal for constitution of the FNTA. Thereafter, the draft Bill, vetted by the Advocate General, was sent to the MHA on March 17.
The government said ENPO representatives met the chief minister on March 24 and submitted a representation requesting that the FNTA Bill be passed before the ENPO Central Executive Committee meeting scheduled for March 30, pointing out that 49 days had already elapsed since the signing of the MoA and urging that there should be no further delay.
In view of the representation, the Cabinet met again on March 25, further deliberated on the draft Bill sent to the MHA, approved it with necessary modifications and decided to table it during the ongoing Eighth Session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
The statement said the Bill was introduced in the Assembly on March 26. However, later that evening, the MHA informed the state government that the issue regarding the constitutionality of conferring legislative powers on the FNTA through a state legislation was still under examination and that legal opinion was being sought. The MHA requested the state government to allow more time and proceed further with the Bill only after receipt of its views.
The government further stated that on the same day, the ENPO appealed that the provisions of the MoA be upheld while passing the FNTA Bill, while the member secretary of the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) requested deferment of the Bill until all concerns were addressed and clarity was attained on the MoA.
In view of the request made by the Government of India, the appeal of the ENPO and the request made by the ENLU, and with the need to ensure that the provisions of the MoA were addressed in a legally sound and constitutionally tenable manner, the state government on March 27 decided to defer consideration and passage of the FNTA Bill and sought its return from the Assembly for further examination. The Bill was subsequently returned by the Assembly Secretariat.
The statement said the response of the MHA on the communication sent by the state government was still awaited. It, however, noted that while the ENPO had expressed concern over the delay in constituting the FNTA as per the provisions of the MoA, the state government remained keen to constitute the authority at the earliest possible within the framework of the Constitution.
It said an emergency Cabinet meeting with members of the ENLU and senior government officials was convened on July 6, during which the matter was deliberated upon extensively. Following the deliberations, the state government decided to convene a special session of the Assembly for enacting legislation for the constitution of the FNTA. The proposed legislation, it said, would include the necessary legislative provisions to confer legislative powers upon the FNTA in respect of the transferred subjects and departments for the districts under the authority, in consultation with and with the approval of the MHA, and in consonance with the Constitution.
The government categorically reiterated that the safeguards and provisions under Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India were “sacred and sacrosanct” and would neither be diluted nor altered in any manner whatsoever.
It also maintained that Nagaland could achieve comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable development only when Eastern Nagaland was fully developed and progressed alongside all other regions of the state. Towards this objective, it reaffirmed its commitment to the legitimate aspirations, development, progress and welfare of the people of Eastern Nagaland.
Referring to the Government of India’s assurance of a Rs.5,000-crore economic package for the ENPO areas under the MoA, the state government requested the Centre to enhance the package to a minimum of Rs.10,000 crore to accelerate comprehensive development, economic growth and progress across Eastern Nagaland.
The government further informed that the decisions of the Cabinet would be formally communicated to the Government of India and that a Cabinet delegation led by the chief minister, along with members of the ENLU, would proceed to New Delhi for advice, approval and guidance from the Centre.
In view of the decisions of the Cabinet and the various steps being undertaken for the constitution of the FNTA, the state government requested the ENPO to reconsider its proposed public rally and shutdown in the districts of Eastern Nagaland on July 10.