Kenye urges ENPO to participate in Hornbill festival

KOHIMA — Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs, KG Kenye, has called for inclusive participation in the upcoming Hornbill Festival, urging eastern Nagaland communities to take part in the festivities.

He said this during a media interaction following the Nagaland Legislative Assembly session in Kohima on Thursday, following media reports suggesting that the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) has called for boycott of the festival scheduled from December 1 to the 10th.

The ENPO encompasses the Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir and Yimkhiung communities.

He urged against the purported boycott, emphasising the shared ownership of the entire state. He stressed the importance of unity, stating that the state belongs to everyone collectively, and no one should penalise or isolate their own people.

Kenye expressed a desire for inclusive participation, assuring that legislators from the Eastern areas will be involved. “Everyone is family and must come to participate,” he added.

Further, the minister addressed the relationship between the government and the ENPO, clarifying that there is no misunderstandings, since the ENPO case, which the state government recommended in July 2011, was taken up by the Government of India with full approval and recommendations from the state government.

He asserted that there is no reason for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) or ENPO to avoid engagement with the state government, as it has neither obstructed nor impeded their efforts. Rather, state government has consistently facilitated and supported ENPO, he said.

However, since the state was ‘kept in the dark’ for over a decade about the status of discussions between the centre and the ENPO, and considering public concern over the matter, the state government sought clarity from the central government, leading to the demand for tripartite talks involving the state government to ensure transparency and consent in decision-making.

He recalled a recent meeting where the ENPO leadership reportedly called on the chief minister in Dimapur on November 7, in the presence of few state leaders and said that the state does not have an immediate answer regarding the outcome of the talks.

However, the Chief Minister, being a seasoned politician who understood the requirements of the people in the Eastern sector, deduced that the issue is not purely political but has economic dimensions, encompassing education, infrastructure, development, medical facilities, per capita income and other essential aspects that require attention.

Kenye emphasised the need for concentrated focus in these areas, acknowledging that while not all demands can be met in their entirety, the government is open to reviewing valid demands. He suggested that involving the state government in the talks could have expedited the resolution of issues. The state’s involvement should not be perceived as interference or an obstacle, he clarified.

However, Kenye asserted that the geopolitical nature of the issue, involving changes in the demarcation of the state, brings the concerns back to the state. He noted efforts by the state government to provide a neutralising and ‘healing touch’ to both sides, urging them to reconsider their positions in light of ground realities.

He said that the ENPO may have ‘demanded too much’ or the Centre may have given ‘false hope’ during the negotiations, and as such, highlighted the state government’s role in promoting a balanced approach. He encouraged both parties to reassess their stances, considering the surrounding realities and what is practically achievable on the ground. Kenye conveyed a message of moderation, urging a realistic and collaborative approach to address the grievances and aspirations of all parties involved in the discussions.

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