KOHIMA: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday emphatically stated that Nagaland will weaken if further divided.
This was stated by CM Neiphiu Rio while speaking at the state assembly during the current ongoing budget session.
The statement was made by the Nagaland CM while referring to the demand of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) for a separate “Frontier Nagaland” state.
The ENPO is a group of tribal councils and organisation which is committed to a separate state in Eastern Nagaland called Frontier Nagaland.
CM Neiphiu Rio was emphatic on his stand that, “Nagaland will weaken if further divided.”
A decision to extend a special package for the development in the eastern Nagaland region was also urged by the Nagaland chief minister to the central government
CM Rio further said that the Nagaland government is ‘committed’ to an early solution to the Naga political issue. An early solution to the vexed Naga political issue was promised by the BJP- NDPP alliance prior to the Assembly polls held last month.
The Naga civil societies have been demanding solution to vexed Naga Political Issue before the conduct of the state election while the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO) had declared not to participate in the election process unless their demand for a separate state composed of the six eastern districts are fulfilled. Later, the boycott decision was rescinded by ENPO.
The ENPO is a group of tribal councils and organisation which is committed to a separate state in Eastern Nagaland called Frontier Nagaland. Last month, an ENPO delegation had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to raise their demands with the Union government.
As per ENPO, the Frontier Nagaland state is required as the four districts in eastern Nagaland have been neglected for years. Eastern Nagaland comprises six districts -- Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator – which are inhabited by seven tribes of Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir and Yimkhiung
In December, the six tribes that are part of the ENPO boycotted the Hornbill Festival and also announced that they would not participate in the state elections that would be due in February-March
Following hectic parlays between ENPO and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Naga organisation decided to participate in the Assembly elections. Amit Shah has promised to solve the problems of the Eastern Nagaland districts but ruled out any division of the state.
This stand of the Union Home Ministry was reiterated by CM Neiphiu Rio in the state Asembly on Monday.
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