Dimapur, January 29 (MExN): The Congress Legislature Party of Nagaland is told by the Nagaland Chief Minister’s Office that the Nagaland Government has already begun taking both political steps and bureaucratic initiatives to resolve issues concerning the demand for a separate state raised by an organization from the state’s eastern regions.
The Chief Minister’s Secretariat issued a statement today in response to the Congress. The CMO said practical response has been on at both political and administrative levels. In fact, the process even includes a Nagaland State Legislative meeting of all 60 elected Members over the issue while another sitting of the Joint Legislative Forum with the office bearers of the ENPO is strongly envisaged, the CMO informed.
At the bureaucratic level, an official committee headed by the chief secretary has been set in place to look into the various points and grievances made out in the memorandum of the ENPO; the government has further invited the office bearers of the ENPO for a meeting to discuss their grievances and demands, the CMO said.
“The legislators under the ENPO districts were also requested to have deliberations with the ENPO. The Cabinet was of the view that after these steps are taken, a meeting of all 60 elected Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly would be called which can be followed by a meeting of the Joint Legislative Forum with the office bearers of the ENPO,” the CMO informed.
The Chief Minister’s Secretariat explained that the state government has made its stand clear that it will stand for unity and integrity of the state and the Naga people.
A statement from the CMO today responded to the Congress. “It goes without saying that demand of the ENPO for a separate state to be carved out of Nagaland is a most serious issue concerning every citizen of the state. The state government has been alive to the issue and the state cabinet discussed the matter in its cabinet meeting dated 18th January, 2011.”
In its statement on January 18, the state had clearly expressed sadness at the demand ‘as it comes at a time when the Naga political struggle for a Naga identity and unity is at a crucial stage and when the DAN Government is trying its best to develop the backward areas.’ The state government had also said it stands for unity and integrity of the state and of the Naga people and had appealed to the members of the ENPO to reconsider the matter and withdraw its stand.
“The demand for a separate state is of utmost concern for every citizen of Nagaland and it should not be politicized and the DAN government appeals to all sections and political parties to come together and collectively work for the greater interest of the state and the Naga people. The chief minister also makes an appeal to the members of the opposition to collectively work together to resolve the issue.”
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