People of Tuensang town during the public rally demanding a separate Frontier Nagaland state on August 9. (Morung Photo)
Public rallies held across six districts
Morung Express News
Tuensang | August 9
Public rallies under the aegis of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) were held on Tuesday simultaneously in the eastern districts of Nagaland – Tuensang, Shamator, Mon, Longleng, Noklak, and Kiphire – to express solidarity with the ENPO’s demand for a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state.
The ENPO is the apex body of the eastern Naga tribes of Nagaland which include the Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir and Yimkhiung.
In Tuensang town, all business establishments, educational institutions and offices remained closed during the rally which was organized by the Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS) at Parade Ground.
The rally saw a huge turnout of people from all walks of life wearing traditional attires and holding placards and banners to voice their demand.
On the occasion, K Asungba Sangtam, Talk Team Convenor, stated that the gathering was an expression to show solidarity and unity towards the democratic right of the eastern Naga people to demand for a separate Frontier Nagaland state.
He mentioned that the present area of Eastern Nagaland under the aegis of ENPO was historically and geographically never under any foreign rule before the advent of independence of India. It was known as an ‘excluded and un-administered area’ and even the British left this part of Nagaland as unconquered and unoccupied, he maintained.
Sangtam cited Article 37(A) Clause 2(B) of the Constitution of India which, according to him, clearly states that: “Where any money provided by the central government to the Nagaland government as a whole, Governor of Nagaland shall arrange for an equitable allocation of the money between Tuensang district which is the Eastern Nagaland region and the rest of the state.”
However, he lamented that this has never happened since most of their representatives were 'innocent and ignorant' and on the other hand the Governor of Nagaland did not discharge his constitutional obligation.
He also referred to the latest NITI Aayog report on the North-East region on ‘Sustainable Development Goals,’ and said that he was shocked to see that Nagaland state being mentioned as the worst performing state in India. All seven districts of the Eastern Nagaland areas have been mentioned as ‘unsatisfactory’ and have been given the status of ‘aspirational’ category, he added.
He also mentioned that the per capita income of the Eastern Nagaland stands at around INR 5000 (approx) whereas, the rest of Nagaland state stands at INR 16,000.
“Statistics for employment of Eastern Nagaland people stands at 7.4% while the rest of Nagaland has 96.6%,” he added.
Sangtam maintained that the misuse of precious resources of the state by improper implementation and inappropriate spending was reflected by the CAG’s (Comptroller & Auditor General of India) annual reports.
When a portion of the state has been left neglected and no attention has been paid to the overall development of the Eastern Nagaland area ever since it became a part of the Nagaland state, “The public of this region has lost faith in any kind of development coming forth to them in another 50 to 60 years,” he remarked.
So far, the Government of India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the ENPO has had four bilateral talks with officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and two tripartite talks along with the officials of Nagaland state representatives.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to Tuensang in 2018 remarked that the Eastern Nagaland region is very backward and that his government would provide maximum fund to develop this backward region, he said.
‘Backward’ tag not by choice
Similarly, Chang Wedoshi Setshang President C Pongsu noted that the region is socially and economically backward.
“We might not like to hear but we look into it, we know reality and we understand that we are backward. This tag of backward was not chosen by us but it because of the deprivation over us,” he maintained.
Expressing views on behalf of the students and youths, C Pongsu read out reports from all the sectors and said that the employment rate is only 11% among the eastern Nagas. He also pointed out that there is not even a single BEd institution in Eastern Nagaland.
“When we talk about schools and colleges in Eastern Nagaland, we don’t see a single professional college or institution being set up by the government. There are six districts in our area but there are only four government colleges, in dilapidated condition; that is how we are being deprived,” Pongsu remarked.
“There are nine high schools in our area but there is not even a single head master,” he further stated.
Meanwhile, ENPO Vice-President W Bendang Chang said that the organisation is ‘always in talks with the central government.’ The interaction with the Government of India was consistent however due to the outbreak of the pandemic; no meetings could be made possible.
On October 13, 2021, they submitted a second reminder letter to the Prime Minister of India after which they were called upon and it was attended by all the ENPO, Eastern Nagaland tribal leaders and Talk Team members, he said.
President of Eastern Nagaland Women’s Organisation, A Shamtei Phom also addressed the gathering, expressing that the regions has been deprived, neglected, discriminated and suppressed.
“Brothers and sisters from seven districts, let us unite together,” she added.
Conveying a solidarity message on behalf of Tuensang public, Aliba Sangtam, President of United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji, stated that the demand for statehood is around 12 years in the making. Calling on the people to not be disheartened, he remarked that the journey is long, but “we must stay united remembering the pioneers who have paved the way for them.’
The rally also observed a minute of silence in remembrance of former leaders.
In Kiphire and Shamator too, the people rallied to express solidarity with the ENPO.
Along with the rally, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed on account of the rally in the Kiphire today. The USLP which spearheaded the rally also submitted a representation to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner.
At the public ground in Shamator, the Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) President Throngso expressed ‘unflinching support’ to the ENPO. Various speakers from civil society organisations including the Presidents of YWO and YAA as well as ENPO secretaries S Yansomong and Tsakyuse Sangtam addressed the rally, according to a report from the DIPR.
