Govt urged to deal with "Frontier State" demand without delay

Kohima, Jan 29 (PTI) Congress Legislature Party (CLP) inNagaland has urged the Neiphiu Rio government to address thesensitive issue of separate state demand by Eastern NagalandPublic Organisation (ENPO) without further delay.

The CLP issued a statement expressing grave concern overthe demand for creation of "Frontier Nagaland" comprising fourborder districts of the state after its meeting in Dimapuryesterday.

The opposition Congress asserted that the matter shouldnot be shifted to the bureaucrats alone but should be handledpolitically by the state government as it is delicate andinvolves the aspiration of a large section of the Naga people.

The opposition legislators said a political panel insteadof an administrative committee is imperative to instil theconfidence among the Eastern Nagas.

Considering intricacies of the issue, the party asked thestate government to take bold political decisions to resolvethe problem. The CLP pointed out that the common perceptionwas that the presence of substantial political leadership (ineastern part of Nagaland) had not made any difference inequitable presence of bureaucracy in key positions andproportionate employees in the government establishments.

Maintaining that elected members have the constitutionalobligation to protect and preserve the integrity of the state,the Congress said the DAN government should have takenconcrete political steps to address the issue.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP, Khekiho Zhimomi said thedemand for a separate state is a slight setback to the Nagapolitical struggle for unity and integration but thegrievances of the eastern Nagas could be resolved by the DANgovernment under the leadership of Neiphiu Rio.

He told newsmen at the sidelines of a function nearDimapur that the development and employment need of the bordertribes could be redressed to the level of their maximumsatisfaction.

Zhimomi said that cooperation with the government isparamount adding that goodwill should prevail on both sides toaddress the grievances of the Eastern Naga brothers.

The ENPO, representing six Naga tribes of eastern part ofthe state submitted a memorandum to the prime ministerdemanding creation of "Frontier Nagaland" and organised publicrallies in all the four district headquarters town on January7 in support of its demand for socio-economic development ofthe backward region bordering Myanmar.