The Government of India held an important meeting in New Delhi on December 21 to discuss the long-pending Frontier Nagaland issue. The talks were held in a tripartite format between the Centre, the Government of Nagaland and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO). Officials said the discussions were serious and were aimed at finding a peaceful and permanent solution.
The meeting was held at Kartavya Bhavan-3 on Janpath Road. It was chaired by the Union Home Secretary. The Nagaland government delegation was led by the Chief Secretary. Senior ENPO leaders were also present. Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and other central agencies also attended the discussions.
These talks came three days after a separate meeting between the ENPO and a Ministry of Home Affairs team on December 18. That meeting included senior officers from the North East division and intelligence agencies. According to officials, the presence of such senior officers shows the importance the Centre is placing on the issue.
After the December 21 meeting, the ENPO delegation and Rajya Sabha MP S. Phangnon Konyak met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his official residence. The delegation conveyed Christmas greetings to the Home Minister. They also expressed appreciation for the Centre’s approach and seriousness regarding the Frontier Nagaland demand.
The ENPO has been demanding a separate Frontier Nagaland Territory for many years. The group says districts in eastern Nagaland have remained backward and need more focused administration and development. The talks have been going on for some time, and both sides have agreed to continue the dialogue.
