Declining the request from Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) to postpone the March 19 meeting scheduled at CKS Hall, Tuensang, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) affirmed that the proposed meeting would proceed as planned.
In a letter dated March 16 addressed to ENLU secretary general, ENPO president R. Tsapikiu Sangtam conveyed that following the emergency meeting of the “Eastern Nagaland Public Emergency Control Room” in Tuensang on Saturday, it was unanimously decided that the proposed meeting would go as fixed. Tsapikiu said that the meeting, initially scheduled for March 14, 2024, and convened by the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF), was rescheduled to March 19 “considering the convenience of ENLU members, as all 20 members were travelling to New Delhi.”
However, the meeting presumed that there would be no point meeting Central leaders since the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha election had already been declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Therefore, while taking cognisance of the tight schedule and inconvenience, ENPO requested the ENLU members to take out time to be present at the proposed meeting positively.
It may be mentioned that the ENPO had asked the following to attend the March 19 meeting positively– Rajya Sabha MP, 20 elected members of Eastern Nagaland, House of 13th NLA- ENLU chairman and secretary, ENGOA president along with eight members, talk team, ENPO advisors and former ENPO, ENWO and ENSF presidents.
Meanwhile, in a circular issued on March 15, ENPO, tribal bodies and frontal organizations reaffirmed to stand by the February 23, 2024 Chenmoho resolution– “not to participate in any central and state election” if the offer for creation of Frontier Nagaland Territory is not settled by the Government of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs before the declaration of Election Model Code of Conduct to the Lok Sabha 2024 (as assured by Union Home Minister on 7th Dec. 2023).”
They cautioned that the people of Eastern Nagaland will not be held responsible for any situation that may arise. It further said that ENPO “shall not accede to any assurance that may come up with by the MHA to be implemented after the upcoming Parliamentary election process.”