Kohima: The Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU), on Friday clarified that the delay in the progress of the Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) talks is due to the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) refusal to study and comment on the draft Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The ENLU said that the draft, which originated from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), was handed over to the 20-member legislators’ group by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for observation, consultation, and feedback.
In a press release, the ENLU stated that it took the inititative to discuss the draft with the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) and other key organisations from Eastern Nagaland. However, the ENPO refused to study or comment on the draft, expressing doubts about its authenticity, which has led to delays in the ongoing dialogue.
The ENLU emphasised that the ongoing dialogue between the ENPO and MHA concerning the FNT is an ongoing issue that transcends political affiliations, as it represents the aspirations of the tribes and people of Eastern Nagaland. The union also asserted that the FNT should not be used as a tool for political gain by any individual or party.
“We are grateful for the immense support from the people of Nagaland and the state government towards achieving our goals,” the release stated.
The ENLU expressed regret over what it described as immature statements from a particular political party that politicised the issue, including unwarranted criticism of the chief minister. The union urged that the matter be left to the “matured wisdom of the negotiating parties” until a final agreement is reached.
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Highlighting the importance of unity, the ENLU called for a collective effort towards a unified approach and urged all sections to refrain from politicising the issue with immature statements. Instead, they encouraged positive contributions towards resolving the matter.
The union also stressed that no individual or organisation should issue statements that could cause misunderstandings or divisions within Naga society. It reiterated that the chief minister should not be blamed or held responsible but should be acknowledged for his leadership and guidance in the concerted efforts to resolve the issue in the best interest of the people.
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