Nagaland government modifies Core Committee of the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue

Dimapur, May 9 (EMN): The government of Nagaland has modified the Core Committee of the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue, increasing the total number of members from 18 to 22.

The state’s Home Department, Political Branch, informed about the change through a notification issued in the backdrop of S Phangnon Konyak taking the place of KG Kenye in the Rajya Sabha and 21 Naga People’s Front (NPF) MLAs joining the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).

While the convenor, co-convenors (two) and member secretary of the core committee remained changed, Phangnon Konyak, who was recently elected to the Upper House, has been inducted into the panel, which also has Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yepthomi.

Earlier, the panel consisted of five legislators each from three major political parties in the 13th NLA – NDPP, BJP and NPF – and Independent candidate Tongpang Ozukum, Minister of Housing and Mechanical, but the latest change has pushed the number of NDPP members to 10 while NPF members decreased to four.

NDPP legislators — YM Yollow Konyak, Minister, EF& CC; Noke Wangnao, Advisor, SW, Home Guards & Civil Defence; Imkong L Imchen, MLA; Yitachu, MLA; Dr. Chotisuh Sazo, MLA; and  Muthingnyuba Sangtam, MLA – were inducted into the panel, while one of the members, Toshi Wungtung, passed away last year.

All the four NPF MLAs — Khriehu Liezietsu, Kuzholuzo Nienu, Kezhienyi Khalo and Dr. Nganshi K Ao – are in the core committee and the members from the BJP remained unchanged.

It may be recalled that the state government had constituted the panel last year with an aim to discuss matters related to the protracted Naga issue and play the role of facilitator in the ongoing peace talks between the government of India and the Naga political groups.