Mokokchung, October 8 (MTNews): Following the public walkathon in all tribal headquarters across the six Eastern Nagaland districts on Friday, the seven federating units of the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) each submitted a five-point memorandum to the Prime Minister through the respective Deputy Commissioners urging the Prime Minister to “immediately and proactively” look into the demand for a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state.

 

The memorandum was submitted by the Chang Wedoshi Setshang (CWS), Konyak Students’ Union (KSU), Khiamniungan Students’ Union (KSU), Phom Students’ Conference (PSC), Tikhir Students’ Union (TSU), United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC), and the Yimkhiung Akherü Arihako.

 

The federations claimed that Six Eastern districts (Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator) bordering Myanmar are the remotest region in the country and that, successive Nagaland state government has neglected the region for the past 59 years since the attainment of Nagaland state in the year 1963.

 

“The region has been deprived from basic necessities of life such as Education, Health services and Economy which is no doubt a direct threat to the security of the Nation,” it stated.
It further continued that the people of Eastern Nagaland have faced “ineffable discrimination” in the hands of the “biased and prejudice leaders since time immemorial.”

 

The federation reminded that the easternmost region which is inhabited by the seven major tribes, which occupies 8,154 sq.kms and makes up approximately 48 percent of the total population of Nagaland, “remained free from any colonial rule” ever since the inception of the colonial rule in India.

 

“It was only in 1948 the seven tribes were merged under the banner of North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) known as Tuensang Frontier Division under the Ministry of External Affairs. With the formation of Nagaland state on 1st December 1963, in amalgamation of NEFA and Naga Hills district of Assam amalgamated to form a full-fledged state,” the federation stated.

 

However, according to the federation, the understanding between the two entities was never implemented in letter and in spirit.

 

“The 59th year of existence of the state, the easternmost region still remains as one of the most neglected areas in every aspect of social and economic life and the jurisprudence of Article 371 A of the Constitution of India is highly challenged,” it stated.

 

The federation finding it to be in the larger “interest of the public of Eastern Nagaland and to protect the rights of its people,”called upon the Government of India to “immediately and proactively look into the long cherished dream of the people of Eastern Nagaland over the legitimate demand for Frontier Nagaland/statehood demand of people living in the Myanmar Border of India.”

 

The federation further stated that it will remain steadfast in the pursuit of Frontier Nagaland/statehood.

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