Kohima, June 1: The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) has alleged that the Nagaland government is attempting to weaken crucial provisions of the agreement concerning the establishment of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), claiming that the state has reversed its earlier commitments made during tripartite negotiations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the organisation voiced concern over what it described as efforts to modify significant clauses of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on February 5, 2025. The agreement envisages the creation of the FNTA as a distinct self-governing territorial authority within Nagaland, vested with legislative, executive and financial autonomy.
According to the ENPO, the provisions incorporated in the agreement were the result of extensive discussions and consultations involving all stakeholders. The organisation asserted that any attempt to alter the terms of the signed MoA would undermine the very purpose and spirit of the accord.
The ENPO urged the state government to introduce and pass the FNTA Bill in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly without making any changes to the provisions contained in the agreement. It maintained that the proposed arrangement was designed to address the long-standing governance and developmental concerns of the people of Eastern Nagaland.
The organisation further claimed that the state government was now moving away from positions it had previously supported during consultations on the proposed framework. It pointed out that comments submitted by the state on the draft Memorandum of Settlement to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in 2023 had indicated agreement in principle to grant legislative, executive and financial autonomy to the proposed authority.
Calling on the government to honour the agreement in its entirety, the ENPO stated that effective implementation of the pact would contribute to peace, development and the overall welfare of Eastern Nagaland.
Amid the ongoing controversy, the organisation has convened a meeting of its Central Executive Council (CEC) in Tuensang on June 3 to discuss the issue. All CEC members have been directed to attend, while legislators from Eastern Nagaland and representatives of district units have been invited as special guests.
The meeting will take place after a scheduled consultation on June 2 involving leaders of political parties from Eastern Nagaland, tribal councils, and district presidents and secretaries. The ENPO has requested political parties to nominate three-member delegations for the consultation, while tribal councils have been asked to send their presidents, vice-presidents and general secretaries.
The Nagaland government has not yet issued an official response to the allegations levelled by the organisation.
