Frontier Nagaland issue: ENPO says ball in 20 MLAs’ court now

Requests its churches to pray for ENLU members during Sep. 22 devotional service 

DIMAPUR — The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has issued a special prayer request for the 20 Legislators (members of ENLU) from the eastern districts of Nagaland, reasoning that that the “ball being placed at the ENLU’s court” would determine the fate of Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT).

In a letter addressed to the respective executive secretaries of the eight church organisations under its jurisdiction—CLBT, ENSBCLF, KBCA, KBBB, PBCA, TBBA, USBLA, and YBBA—the ENPO requested a special prayer for the 20 MLAs, “on FNT issue”, during forthcoming Sunday devotional service on September 22.

The ENPO, in its letter, sought to provide the backdrop as well as the context to its call for prayer on the Legislators’ behalf.

“On 13th Aug. 2023, Mr. AK Mishra had apprised the ENPO’s delegation that comprised of the ENLU,  ENGOA, ENWO, ENSF, 8 tribal bodies representative and former ENPO officials that: 1. If and when the state government sends its ‘comment’, the MHA shall rework on the draft and will share it with the ENPO for further deliberation and discussion. 2. There will be a tripartite talk (MHA-State Government & the ENPO) before the ‘final signing’.  Hence, the ENPO must ensure that the state government sends its ‘comment’ without delay.

“Accordingly, on 23rd Aug. 2024 the ENPO had initiated the action plan by submitting a request letter to the Chief Minister of Nagaland to send the ‘comment’ of the state government on the draft without further delay. Meanwhile, the ENPO on 26th Aug. 2024 had also submitted a letter to the ENLU requesting them not to ‘retract back the draft’, rather to ensure the state government sends its ‘comment’, including the suggestions of ENLU as the state government’s ‘comment’,” the letter read. 

Also read: Frontier Nagaland Territory could be interim solution before statehood — ENPO president

However, the ENPO stated that the ‘press statement’ issued by the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) on August 28 had categorically declared that “the state government would first thoroughly deliberate on the proposals with the Eastern Nagaland Legislators having 20 MLAs in the state only after which further steps will be taken”. 

“The ENPO is in utmost dismay since the response of the state government is not in due consonance to the request tabled by the ENPO,” it stated.

It accused Nagaland government of “directly” undermining the spirit of “collective responsibility as envisaged under Art. 75 (3) by segregating the ENLU and being held self-accountable on the FNT movement.”