The state government has raised serious concerns over a reported suggestion to place the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNTA) under a new Article of the Constitution, separate from Article 371A that safeguards Nagaland’s special status.
Addressing a press conference in Kohima after the state cabinet meeting on Wednesday, minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs and government spokesperson K.G. Kenye said the idea of introducing a separate constitutional provision—possibly Article 371K—was “unacceptable” and could undermine the territorial and constitutional unity of the state.
Kenye said the state cabinet, after thorough deliberation, has decided to send a full delegation to New Delhi to meet Union Home Ministry officials and seek urgent clarification on the matter.
“If a new Article is introduced, it would mean bifurcation from Article 371A and may exclude the new entity from the state’s existing constitutional framework. That is unacceptable,” Kenye stated.
He disclosed that discussions between the Centre and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) had reached an advanced stage, with the State Cabinet now playing an active role after being excluded from the process for over a decade. Talks that began in 2010 remained bilateral between ENPO and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) until they turned tripartite only last year.
According to Kenye, many vital documents related to the ongoing talks were made available to the Cabinet only recently. He also maintained that the Centre, ENPO, and the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) had all previously operated on the understanding that the FNTA would remain under Article 371A.
“No one—neither the Centre nor ENPO—ever stated the intention of creating a separate Article, so this suggestion came as a surprise and needs immediate clarification,” he said.
While reiterating that the state government has no objection to granting legislative, administrative, and financial autonomy to FNTA, Kenye asserted that the core constitutional status must not be altered. “All such issues—legislation, finance, judiciary—are minor and negotiable. But the constitutional framework is not,” he said.
Kenye also clarified that the Cabinet had discussed ENLU’s proposal for ex-officio appointments in the FNTA regional council, stating that the differences mainly concerned voting rights and composition, which he termed “negotiable.” Responding to queries on why the state was kept out of earlier discussions, Kenye acknowledged that public suspicion toward the Centre was understandable but expressed confidence that the tripartite format had improved trust.
He added that the Cabinet would likely schedule its visit to Delhi soon after the Independence Day celebrations.
Kenye concluded by urging citizens to approach the issue with maturity and restraint, and assured that the government remains committed to safeguarding the interests and unity of the state. “The state cannot afford to make mistakes at this juncture. Every decision taken is for the welfare of our people and must be grounded in careful consideration,” he said.
State Cabinet nod for 7-member panel to review job quota
Correspondent
KOHIMA, AUG 6 (NPN): State government spokesperson and minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs K.G. Kenye on Wednesday briefed media persons at Hotel Japfü, Kohima, on key issues deliberated during the State Cabinet meeting held earlier in the day.
He said the Cabinet discussed several crucial matters including review of the state’s job reservation policy and implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime across the state. Kenye said the State Cabinet decided to constitute a seven-member Reservation Review Commission to examine the effectiveness, impact, and relevance of the state’s reservation policy which has been in place for nearly 48 years.
He said the Cabinet acknowledged diverging public sentiments—some seeking a complete overhaul of the reservation system, while others argue that socio-economic disparities still exist and justify its continuation.
“Some feel that 47 going on 48 years is too long and the policy has outlived its purpose. Others argue that the gap hasn’t narrowed and thus the policy should continue,” Kenye said.
Accordingly, the cabinet had decided to form a commission headed by a person with integrity and administrative experience from a retired senior IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre.
The commission would include one member each to be nominated by Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation; Central Nagaland Tribes Council; Tenyimi Union Nagaland; three official members including administrative head of P&AR department, home commissioner and administrative head of law & justice department.
The government has requested respective tribal apex bodies (ENPO, CNTC, and TUN) to nominate credible and qualified individuals to represent their respective communities as members of the commission. It has been informed that nominations are to be communicated to the government at the earliest for necessary action.
While Commission has been mandated to submit its report within six months of its formal appointment, it was learnt that the implementation of the proposed reforms may overlap with the caste-based census scheduled by the Centre in January 2026.
Kenye clarified that the government will not interfere in the nomination of members by the regional blocs.
ILP implementation: On the issue of Inner Line Permit, Kenye said the Cabinet expressed satisfaction over the phased implementation in western Nagaland, particularly in Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland.
He credited the cooperation between civil society organisations (CSOs), the public, and government agencies, noting that short-term results have been “highly impressive.”
He explained that though ILP is based on the 1873 Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), it lacked constitutional backing for decades.
He recalled that while the Nine Points Agreement of 1947 and the 1960 Sixteen Point Agreement mentioned ILP, these provisions were never codified into law during the drafting of the Constitution or the Nagaland Statehood Act.
ILP only gained legal backing in 2019 through Section 6B of the amended Citizenship Act under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Kenye said. “Only after 2019 did ILP become a full-fledged law,” he stated.
He said a Cabinet Sub-committee is monitoring ILP implementation, with several categories of non-Nagas now identified. However, he acknowledged that enforcement will take time and called for public cooperation without vigilantism.
“Let us not be vindictive or stringent. Use the law reasonably and support the right authorities,” Kenye appealed. Undocumented individuals found during ILP checks will be handed over to the administration, he added.