Nagaland CM says issues raised by ENPO will be solved; NPF extends support

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 21 (EMN): Amid demand by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for a Frontier Nagaland and the decision to abstain from participating in the upcoming Hornbill Festival 2022 citing “hardships faced by participants” from the region, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday said “all these issues will be resolved”.

He was replying to queries raised by journalists on the sidelines of mobile veterinary units flagging off event in Kohima on Friday.

On the ENPO’s demand for a separate state, Rio said: “We will give an appointment for ENPO to meet the Home minister and if the prime minister also comes (to Nagaland), we will make a request (for a meeting).”

A reliable source had earlier told Eastern Mirror that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Nagaland on October 28 during his tour of the Northeast and a civic reception would be held at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima, where he is expected to address a public rally. However, official confirmation is still awaited on this.

The chief minister said that ‘Nagas speak out their mind and it is not wrong for the eastern Nagas to say what they think and what they deserve’.

As for the Hornbill Festival, he said it (eastern region) will be there and everybody should come.

“It is the responsibility of the state. You cannot shame the state; you have to be proud of yourself, proud of your state and we all should try to make it successful,” he added.

NPF supports ENPO

The Naga People’s Front (NPF) President, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu, said during the party’s 60th Foundation Day programme in Kohima on Friday that it supports the demand of the ENPO.

On the ENPO’s decision to abstain from all electoral process of the Centre and the state till their demand for a separate state is fulfilled, he said the NPF is for the people and therefore, “we cannot afford to go against the wishes of our people, be it in the ENPO area or elsewhere”.

However, he expressed apprehension, saying that the NPF faced a bitter experience in 1998 when the Congress party betrayed the Naga people by deciding to go for election.

“We (NPF) are on our guard not to face any such situation again. But we have no second thought in extending our support to the demand of the ENPO,” he said.