Dimapur: Leaders of Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) and officials of Government of India held a meeting on the separate statehood demand of the former in Guwahati on Thursday, according to reports.
The leaders of ENPO went to Guwahati to talk with the officials of the Government of India on the ‘Frontier Nagaland’ statehood demand issue. The reports further said that they will resume talks next week.
Reports then said that ENPO will hold an important meeting on January 7 on the issue.
Two days ago, ENPO had reaffirmed its earlier resolutions to boycott the upcoming Nagaland assembly election due in a couple of month’s time.
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ENPO said that the seven “tribal bodies” of ENPO viz, Chang Khulie Setshang(CKS), Khiamniungan Tribal Council(KTC), Konyak Union(KU), Phom People’s Council (PPC), United Sangtam Likhum Pumji(USLP), Tikhir Tribal Council(TTC), and Yimkiung Tribal Council(YTC) during the emergency meeting held on January 3, at DUDA Guest House, Sovima near Dimapur reiterated to stand on the resolution adopted on August 26 at Hotel Saramati (in Dimapur) and reaffirmation of the same on November 16 ( held in Mon district) and on December 19 (held in Tuensang) whereby “the people of Eastern Nagaland shall not participate in any election process of the state and the center until and unless a separate statehood ‘Frontier Nagaland’ is fulfilled as demanded by the people of Eastern Nagaland through the grassroot.”
It can also be noted here that the Nagaland state cabinet had appealed two days ago to ENPO to reconsider the demand for a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state.
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Spokesperson of the Nagaland government, Neiba Kronu had said, “While expressing our sympathy to the ENPO, we have decided to appeal to them to reconsider their demand in the greater interest of our people.”
Yesterday, Nagaland Gaon Burah (village chief) Federation (NGBF) had also stated that it “understands the genuine grievances” of Eastern Naga People’s Organisation (ENPO). “The delay by the Government of India in announcing the Naga settlement is co-related to sensitive political and administrative discrepancies in the region over the years. Resolving the Naga political issue and post solution realignments of flawed political and administrative status will fulfill the aspiration of Eastern Nagaland tribes,” it added.
Also read | Nagaland Gaon Burah Federation demands to postpone upcoming Nagaland election
The NGBF also said it “understands” that openly expressing decision to boycott and abstain from democratic exercise in any part of India or in Nagaland either by ENPO or Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) will seriously dent the image of the largest democratic nation in the world and its political leadership.
NNN
