‘Conflict nearing end’: Centre, Nagaland and ENPO sign Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority agreement — what it means

NEW DELHI: Central government, the Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) on Thursday signed an agreement to form the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), a new administrative body aimed at addressing the demands of Eastern Nagaland.

The agreement was signed in Delhi in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah and Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio. Speaking on the occasion, Shah, who was clad in the traditional state attire, called the agreement an important step that marked progress towards peace and development in the Northeast.

“Around 12 years ago, ENPO had decided to boycott the elections. ENPO and the Nagaland government could reach an agreement for a logical agreement with their efforts today. MHA will fund the territorial authority and extend all possible help,” Shah said.

The home minister also said that the ministry of home affairs played a key role in resolving differences. “Home ministry officials worked hard for a long time and bridged the gap between the government of Nagaland and ENPO. Now this conflict is nearing its end. I want to thank CM Nephiu Rio and the entire team for taking this negotiation to a logical end. The central government will bear the responsibility of ensuring development in Eastern Nagaland,” he said.

Meaning of the agreement

The agreement provides for the creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority, which will focus on the development and governance of Eastern Nagaland.

The ENPO had been demanding the creation of a separate Frontier Nagaland Territory for more than a decade, raising concerns over development and representation in the region.

The new authority will receive funding and support from the ministry of home affairs. The move is expected to help improve development, governance and delivery of welfare schemes in Eastern Nagaland.

The Nagaland Cabinet had earlier reviewed the issue and expressed hope that discussions with the Centre would lead to a resolution. The Cabinet also formed a sub-committee led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio to pursue talks with the Centre and address related political matters.

The signing of the agreement is seen as a step towards resolving a long-pending demand.

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