New Delhi: Ball in the centre’s court, says the Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) demanding ‘separate statehood’ carving out insurgency-hit 16th state of Indian Union, Nagaland. But high drama is expected at the ENPO-HM Shah meet.
The much-awaited and all-important Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) meeting with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be held on Saturday, Dec 3.
Seven Naga Tribes residing in five administrative districts, Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng and Noklak are demanding separate statehood for ‘Frontier Nagaland’.
Seven tribes – Konyaks, Sangtams, Changs, Phoms, Khiamniungans, Yimchungrus and Tikhirs are native communities from this region.
An 11-member delegation of ENPO leaders accompanied two former MPs Asungba Sangtam and Wangyuh Konyak are in the capital.
Sources say Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and some of his ministerial colleagues may also attend.
Community sources, however, did not appear much enthusiastic about the state government delegation led by Rio to attend the meeting.
“Are they also coming? But why?,” remarked the source on the condition of anonymity.
Another leader said as far as the people of the Mon-Tuensang region are concerned; only those who back “Our demand for Statehood” should logically attend the meeting.
“We are not against any individual…but what’s our Indian culture…should someone come for a solemn occasion without invitation,” the source maintained.
Answering questions, the source said “unless they are coming to sabotage our demand and a very specific demand, why and how will they feel comfortable in the room?”
Tsapikiu Sangtam, president ENPO, Chingmak Chang, president ENSF, Y Konyak, ENWO representative and Lemba Chang member ENPO are also part of the delegation.
When Tuensang and Mon districts were included in the 1960s to be ‘parts of the 16th state of Indian union’, that is the present day state of Nagaland, there were a lot of hopes and aspirations for seven tribes from this region.
But the general feeling is “we have been failed by main-stream Nagaland. And so we better have a state of our own”.
This view is of course countered by mainstream Naga politicians.
One viewpoint is a number of MPs from various parties actually hailed from this region.
The list includes sitting Rajya Sabha MP, S. Phangnon Konyak of BJP and former MPs Chingwang Konyak, Asungba Sangtam, Wangyuh Konyak and Late CM Chang.
The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) is stewarding a demand for Frontier Nagaland for the last decade or so.
Some years back, the students took the tough plunge and the Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF) dissociated themselves from the apex and much influential Naga Students’ Federation (NSF).
The grievance was never in its history as Naga from Tuensang-Mon region was allowed to become President of NSF.
ENPO and other leaders say – “Finally the ball is in the court of the Union Home Ministry and the Government of India. Time for submitting any memorandum or any further discussion is over”.
From the state government, the meeting may be attended by CM Rio, Deputy CM Y Patton and ministers/advisors Pangnyu Phom, C L John, Kashiho Sangtam and Yangseo Sangtam.
Shah could meet the ministerial team led by Rio and the ENPO delegation separately as well.
The government has on the other hand made progress in peace talks with NNPG, an umbrella organisation of Naga underground outfits. The NSCN-IM demand for a separate Flag and Constitution have been rejected by the centre.
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