State government submits comments on proposed Frontier Nagaland settlement

DIMAPUR — Nagaland government has formally submitted its comments on the ‘Draft Memorandum of Settlement-III for the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory/ Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority’, the Home Department announced on Saturday.

Without going into details, the department stated that the comments addressed the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority, encompassing the eastern districts of Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator. It was forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs on November 6, it said in a statement issued through the DIPR.

The department stated that the state cabinet approved the point-wise comments on the MoS during a meeting held on October 30.

Following the cabinet meeting, government spokespersons and ministers KG Kenye and CL John, held a press conference, announcing that the Cabinet had decided to recommend the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) demand for a separate entity to the Centre. While the final name for this entity is yet to be determined, the proposed title, Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), is under active consideration, they said.

Kenye had also said that the comments largely reflected the proposals endorsed by both the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU) and ENPO. Three Cabinet ministers from the ENPO region were present, and the government accepted the MoS draft proposed by the ENPO, the spokesperson said.

Among others, the spokespersons had said that the ENPO’s request for a separate entity would operate under the ambit of Article 371 (A) within the state of Nagaland. Kenye also clarified that the Sixth Schedule was ruled out and that the ENPO is not seeking any distinct arrangement outside the original regional council encompassed in Article 371 (A), meaning no amendment to Article 371 (A) is anticipated.

Kenye clarified that there would be no bifurcation of any department, but a higher grade would be created at the headquarters, centralised from Kohima.

According to the proposals, a total of 49 members would constitute the FNT, with 42 elected and 7 nominated. This body would form the authority for the region. There would be no changes in the backward quota, the spokespersons said at the time.

Also read: ENPO wants Nagaland govt.’s response on Frontier Nagaland Territory by Oct. 31