Kohima: The demand for a separate state ‘Frontier Nagaland’ comprising four border districts of the state dominated the Nagaland assembly proceedings with participation of all political parties on Friday.
Ruling National People’s Front (NPF) member C L John moved a discussion on matters of urgent public importance pertaining to the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) demand followed by participation of members from both treasury bench and opposition Congress.
Moving the discussions, John said that ENPO had submitted a memorandum to the prime minister on November 25, 2010 demanding a separate state ‘Frontier Nagaland’ comprising districts of Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng for lack of socio-economic development in the region.
He said a copy of the memorandum was forwarded to the Nagaland government by the union home ministry on December 8, 2010 seeking comments from the state government. The cabinet discussed the matter on January 18, 2011 and appealed to ENPO to withdraw the demand in larger interest of the Nagas.
The cabinet also constituted a committee headed by the chief secretary to examine the ENPO demands and grievances and subsequently the committee submitted its report to the government on May 23, 2011.
He said the cabinet on July 27, 2011, after deliberating the committee’s recommendations and other reports from sub-committees, proposed formation of an autonomous council comprising the four districts.
The decision was conveyed to the union government and to ENPO, he said.
Congress members Chingwang Konyak, Imtisungit Jamir, K L Chishi, H Chuba Chang, K V Pusa, Apok Jamir and ruling party members P Longon, Pangnyu Phom, Kejong Chang among others took part in the discussions.
All the speakers agreed that the grievances forwarded by ENPO were genuine. They said the elected members, bureaucrats and technocrats should seriously put their heads together to redress the problems.
K L Chishi said it was unfortunate that even after 16 months of the submission of the memorandum to the prime minister, the state government failed to bring the issue to the assembly for discuission.
Although there were historical and geographical reasons for socio-economic backwardness of border districts, the 20 elected members from ENPO area must equally share the blame for this situation, Chisi said.
K V Pusa of Congress suggested that the state assembly by a resolution should appeal to ENPO to withdraw its demand and give assurances to them for speedy socio-economic development of the region.
Rio gives details of new administrative offices: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday informed the House that a total of 9 EAC Headquarters were upgraded to that of SDO (Civil) and 10 SDOs (C) Headquarters to ADC Headquarters from 2003 to 2012 February.
Replying to a starred query raised by the Leader of Opposition Tokheho, Mr Rio gave the names of the Administrative centres that were upgraded to SDO (C) Headquarters from EAC Headquarters are Thonoknyu, Mangnyakshu, Chen, Suruhoto, Longching (shifted to Angjangyand) Tsurangkong and Chessore. (Agencies)