DIMAPUR, JULY 19 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) today made clear that it would reject any economic package if the said package comes in lieu of the demand for a separate state of Frontier Nagaland.
A press note from the ENPO media cell stated that it is not opposed to any economic package for the backward region of the state as a whole for economic development of the people, provided it is not under the name of ENPO.
While maintaining its commitment to the statehood demand, the people of 6 tribes, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam and Yimchunger under the aegis of ENPO reiterated its “uncompromising stand” to firmly reject any form of economic package both by the Centre and State in lieu of its demand for a separate state i.e., separate assembly, separate administration and capital of its own.
The ENPO said that Article 371-A (2) (b) of the Constitution of India guarantees that, where any money is provided by the Government of India to the Government of Nagaland to meet the requirements of the State of Nagaland as a whole, “the Governor shall in his discretion arrange for an equitable allocation of that money between Tuensang district and the rest of the state.”
This provision, the ENPO said, has been “overlooked from day one where the people of ENPO never saw a tangible fruits as guaranteed.” “And therefore, providing any top most special economic package for the development of ENPO will never reach the targeted area and the people,” it added.
