ENPO said the people of Eastern Nagaland will not participate in any election process till Frontier Nagaland statehood demand is met. Nagaland state cabinet has now appealed to ENPO to reconsider its demand keeping in mind the greater interests of the Nagas.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Reaffirming with its earlier decision, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO), on Tuesday made it clear that it would abstain from any electoral process of either the State or the Centre.
The decision was made at an emergency meeting convened on Tuesday at DUDA guest house, Sovima, Chumoukedima.
In the meet, the seven tribal bodies of the ENPO representing 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 Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC), reaffirmed the August 26, 2022 resolution adopted at its Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting held in Mon on November 16 and another CEC meeting held on in Tuensang on December 19.
It was known that in both the CEC meet, the people from the Eastern Nagaland would not participate in any election process of the state and also of the Centre till statehood “Frontier Nagaland” is being fulfilled as demanded by the people of the area through grassroots.
In this regard, the Nagaland state cabinet on Tuesday during a meet appealed to ENPO to reconsider its demand for a separate “frontier state” keeping in mind the greater interests of the Nagas.
Stating that all the legislators of the Nagaland Assembly have come together to bring a solution to the protracted Naga political issue, Minister, Planning and Coordination, Neiba Kronou, while speaking to media persons after the cabinet meeting which was held at the Nagaland Chief Minister’s residential complex, Kohima, informed that the Nagaland state cabinet has taken a decision that while expressing its “sympathy” to the eastern Naga people, the cabinet has decided to appeal to them to reconsider their demand in the greater interest of the people.
Neiba also said that “solution” being the topmost priority at this juncture, the discussion between the union ministries have to be updated to the state government and only after which a decision has to be come.
Meanwhile, sharing his thoughts on the issue, UDA co-chairman, and also the NPF legislature, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Neinu, made it clear that the ensuing election to the NLA would not be abstained or be boycotted as it is a rights under the constitutional provisions.
Azo also went on to add that the UDA are well “mentally prepared” and would soon start the election campaign.
With regard to the ENPO’s demand, Azo said that the issue is quite sensitive and that the Cabinet have requested them to re-examine their demand for “Frontier Nagaland” in the interest of the Nagas as a whole.
Adding that the ENPO’s demand is an important issue, Azo Neinu added that for the UDA government, Naga political is still the priority while also urging the government of India to expedite the Naga political solution at the earliest.
While mentioning that the Nagaland state cabinet has “never recommended” a separate state, Azo highlighted that on July 23, 2011, the state cabinet has stood by the “integration” of all states (Naga inhabited).
He later went on to add that the Nagaland state government had recommended the “autonomous council” but the ENPO had rejected.