Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye on Thursday addressed multiple contentious issues in Nagaland, including the ongoing reservation row and developments on Frontier Nagaland.
Speaking at a press conference in Kohima, Kenye said that following submissions by the five tribes, tribal representatives on the state’s reservation body will be replaced by senior government officials. Former government official R Ramakrishnan has agreed to head the commission, with other ex-officio members drawn from the Home, Law & Justice, Higher & Technical Education, and P&AR departments.
Appointment orders are expected shortly, and the tenure of the commission will be six months.
Kenye also indicated that the body could be renamed from the ‘Job Reservation Commission’ to the ‘Commission for Review of Reservation’ to better reflect its expanded mandate beyond employment-related matters.
On Indigenous issues, he emphasized that the state government will consult all stakeholders and urged the public not to be agitated regarding the implementation of RIIN and the enumeration of the Kuki, Garo, Kachari, and Karbi (formerly Mikir) communities. He clarified that the process aims to identify proper citizens prior to 1963 and is not discriminatory.
Turning to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), Kenye said progress is moving smoothly. He expressed hope that the Centre would act sincerely, avoid delays, and expedite the process. Recalling recent talks between the Centre and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) in August and September, he noted that the state government has already furnished its recommendations after consultations with the Centre.
“Although many points have been agreed upon, certain areas still require reconsideration, which remain the focus of ongoing discussions,” Kenye said. To address these matters in detail, a sub-committee has been formed by the P&AR department along with ENPO members. He described this as a new development and expressed optimism that it would help resolve the core issues delaying progress.
Kenye explained that the discussions primarily revolve around the dissolution of the FNTA’s executive council, management in the event of a constitutional breakdown, funding patterns, and appointments in the region. He ruled out any constitutional amendment to Article 371(A) while remaining hopeful that these matters will be resolved through deliberation.
(With inputs from Eastern Mirror)