In a twist to the Frontier Nagaland Territory demand stalemate, the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU), clarified on Friday that the delay in progress is due to the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization’s (ENPO) refusal to engage with the draft Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
In a press release, the ENLU explained that the draft MoS, originating from the MHA, was handed over to the 20-member legislators’ group by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for observation, consultation, and feedback. The ENLU took the initiative to discuss the draft with the ENPO and other key organizations from Eastern Nagaland. However, the ENPO expressed doubts about the draft’s authenticity and refused to study or comment on it, causing delays in the ongoing dialogue.
The ENLU emphasized 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 politicized 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 politicizing the issue with immature statements. Instead, they encouraged positive contributions towards resolving the matter.
The union also stressed that no individual or organization 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.