Union Home minister P Chidambaram would be holding discussions with state chief minister Neiphiu Rio and other state leaders in New Delhi Monday on the demand for a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ comprising four border districts of the state by Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO).
Health & family welfare (H&FW) minister Nagaland, Kuzholuzo Neinuo (Azo) who is part of the team led by Rio for the discussion while talking to Nagaland Post before leaving for Delhi said “The chief minister is leading a team of 14 of us to Delhi to discuss the ENPO demand with Home Minister P Chidambaram”.
Rio decided to take five ENPO legislatures, six bureaucrats and three non- ENPO members.
Azo said that most of the team members led by Rio were in Delhi already and that six of them were leaving the state Sunday. When inquired about the likely result of the discussion, the H&FW minister said that now the ball was in the court of the Government of India and added “Our recommendations have been given whether they can give or not, it is up to them.
But I think as far as I am concerned, that’s my own opinion. I’ll say, I think we have to stick to the four resolutions passed in the assembly for the integration of all Naga inhabited areas”.
ENPO has been demanding ‘Frontier Nagaland’ comprising four districts of Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng be carved out of present Nagaland.
It may be mentioned that the organization had reiterated its demand when Union minister of state for home Jitendra Singh visited Mon last week.
ENPO had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister in 2010 asserting that only a separate state for six tribes, inhabiting the frontier areas, would bring about socio-economic development in the border region.
It may be recalled that Rio government while opposing further division of Nagaland had recommended an autonomous council and devolution of legislative, financial and administrative powers to the people of the backward areas of eastern Nagaland.
Nagaland government had also last year appointed two high-power committees to recommend to the government short and long term measures. However, ENPO rejected the recommendations.