Demand for separate state: Nagaland govt says ‘ready’ to respond to Centre’s proposal on greater autonomy

No voting took spot successful the six Eastern Nagaland districts for the Lok Sabha polls successful April this twelvemonth pursuing the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization’s telephone to “call to abstain” from the ballot. There person been respective meetings betwixt the ENPO and the Union Home Ministry since past year, including a tripartite treatment with representatives of the Nagaland government.

According to sources who person been portion of these meetings, discussions person been veering towards a “unique arrangement” called ‘Frontier Naga Territory’ (FNT) wrong the authorities of Nagaland with a abstracted legislature, and enforcement and fiscal powers.

The Centre had sent a draught Memorandum of Settlement to the authorities authorities for its remark but determination had been nary advancement since, prompting the predetermination boycott call.

Speaking astir the caller deliberations, Nagaland Parliamentary Affairs Minister K.G. Kenye said talks had been stalled aft the authorities had sought consultations with the ENPO and the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union – which comprises the 20 MLAs from the region. But discussions took spot successful the past fewer weeks pursuing which the authorities is acceptable to guardant its lawsuit to the Centre, helium said.

According to him, the statement volition beryllium wrong the provisions of the Article 371A of the Constitution, which contains peculiar provisions for Nagaland. This includes the proviso of a ‘regional council’ for the past Tuensang territory – aboriginal was divided into the six districts.

“They person been precise wide close from the commencement that they volition not beryllium extracurricular the authorities of Nagaland and the provisions of Nagaland’s 371(A)… There is nary crushed for america to hold and support this substance pending. Whatever we person discussed successful our furniture gathering this week, we spell backmost to ENLU and ENPO, and we person a committee handling the contented which volition adhd the last touches,” said Kenya.

Government spokesperson C.L. John explained the projected part of powers, saying that the authorities volition inactive beryllium centralised successful Kohima.

“Some modality volition travel up. In situation and forests, the authorities volition look astatine the territory level and FNT volition look aft assemblage reserve areas and assemblage conserved areas astatine the agrarian level. Similarly, the National Highways and authorities highways volition beryllium taken up by PWD and the section and agrarian roads by FNT council,” helium said.