Discusses on ‘blueprint’ from MHA
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 26
The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) meeting over its demand for a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state continued for the second day in Dimapur on January 26.
Held behind closed doors, the ENPO officially remained off limits to the media refusing to divulge any information on the meeting agenda. It has also still to officially comment on the Election Commission of India announcing the dates for the Nagaland Assembly polls scheduled on February 27.
While the ENPO remained tight-lipped, reliable sources informed that the meeting has centred on a “blueprint” submitted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs outlining the Government of India’s proposal to the ENPO demand for statehood.
According to the sources, the so called “blueprint,” the content of which remains highly confidential, contains a number of proposals from the GoI. The ENPO was reportedly at variance on two points, one of which, as per the sources, relates to the offer of greater financial and legislative autonomy over land, resources and development funding to the districts in eastern Nagaland dominated by the Chang, Konyak, Khiamniungan, Phom, Sangtam, Yimkhiung and Tikhir.
The other relates to the Naga political issue or, in other words, the impact a separate state for eastern Nagaland would have on the ongoing political negotiations and the imagined outcome of the talks. As per the sources, the ENPO has maintained that their demand should not be mixed up with the Naga political issue, while reiterating that it is wholly related to development and lack thereof in the eastern Nagaland districts. According to them, their demand and the Nagaland political issue should be kept separate.
The ENPO reportedly want their demand fulfilled by January 30 after which elections should take place. The sources further disclosed that the ENPO would be meeting the MHA officials before January 30.
