State govt. making all efforts to resolve FNT issue— NDPP

DIMAPUR — The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) on Sunday said that the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is making all possible efforts to ensure that the Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) issue is resolved as early as possible in a manner that is beneficial and acceptable to the entire Naga family.

The state government has made it categorically clear that it supports the aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland and has even recommended the institution of an autonomous body so long as the unity and integrity of Nagaland is protected, it said in a press release.

On the same lines the NDPP has also supported and endorsed this recommendation of the state government, it said.

Accordingly, the party appealed to the democratically elected representatives of the Eastern Region and the mass based civil society organisations (CSOs) to carry out consultations and deliberations so that the best way forward can be formulated based on teamwork and shared responsibility.

The elected representatives and the CSOs should sit across the table, discuss the hurdles collectively and formulate methods that will ensure that the aspirations of the people are collectively addressed, it added. “The elected representatives and the civil society organisations should sit across the table, discuss the hurdles collectively and formulate methods that will ensure that the aspirations of the people are collectively addressed,” it said.

Further, the NDPP welcomed the statement of the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU) in the matter relating the FNT demand by Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO).

It went on to say that the ENLU’s statement is factual and honest in its content, while noting that the ENLU is a body comprising of all 20 state legislators of the eastern region and cuts across political affiliations as its members belong to different political parties including Independents.

The NDPP endorses the stand and appeal of the ENLU, who have clearly stated that the ENPO issue should not be politicised nor used for exploitation for political mileage, it added.

The NDPP also urged to all sections to work collectively in the greater interest of Naga society so that we can work towards unity and oneness. All sections should refrain from issuing immature statements and avoid attempts to exploit the sensitive issue for short term political gains, it added.

“The Party and all its members while appreciating the stand and efforts of the State Government and the ENLU, reiterate our support for the aspirations of the Eastern people to achieve their developmental goals within the united Naga family,” the NDPP further conveyed.

The early resolution of the issue through the democratic process of consultations, transparent deliberations and collective responsibility under a spirit of unity and oneness is the desire of all sections, it added.