Congress leader seeks Nagaland governor’s intervention in ENPO issue

DIMAPUR — Former president of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) K Therie has sought the intervention of Nagaland governor in resolving the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) issue.

Terming the ENPO’s decision to boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha election as an “extreme step” and a “breakdown of the Constitution”, he said “it will be a black chapter in the history of Nagaland’s Statehood”.

The ENPO on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to the ‘Chenmoho Resolution of February 23, 2024’ to abstain from participating in any state or central election until the fulfillment of its demands related to Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT).

“There may be some confusion because of the division between ENPO and its MLAs. ENPO is standing on issues of discrimination and grievances with support of the rural population and the Youth. They deserve to be respected,” said Therie, adding that ‘the voice of ENPO and its frontal organisations is important’.

Stating that the chief minister of the state had reportedly ‘encouraged ENPO to meet Union Home Minister with their demands’, he said maintaining peace and public order is the duty of the state.

He also accused the elected MLAs for the failure in resolving the matter, claiming that he found the ENPO leaders and citizens to be peaceful and “willing to cooperate with the State”.

While maintaining that the issue has been left unaddressed for 14 years, the Congress leader appealed to the governor “to call upon the government of the day to resolve the problem across the table” instead of leaving it to deteriorate.