The Nagaland government has decided to convene a special session of the State Assembly to enact legislation for the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), while seeking the Centre’s approval to grant legislative powers to the new body.
The decision was taken at an emergency Cabinet meeting on Monday, attended by members of the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) and senior government officials, amid concerns over delays in implementing the Memorandum of Agreement signed on February 5 between the Centre, the Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) for the creation of the FNTA.
According to a statement issued by the Home Department, the proposed legislation will contain provisions to confer legislative powers on the FNTA over transferred subjects and departments within its jurisdiction. These provisions, however, will be subject to consultation with and approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs and must comply with constitutional requirements.
The Cabinet also resolved to urge the Centre to enhance the proposed development package for eastern Nagaland from ₹5,000 crore to ₹10,000 crore.
The government noted that an FNTA Bill had already been drafted and introduced during the Budget session of the Assembly, but its passage was deferred after the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the state that constitutional issues relating to granting legislative powers to the authority were still under examination.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding Nagaland’s special constitutional status, the Cabinet stated that the protections guaranteed under Article 371(A) are “sacred and sacrosanct” and will not be diluted or altered.
A delegation led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, accompanied by ENLU members, will visit New Delhi to seek the Centre’s guidance, approval and support on the proposed legislation and the conferral of legislative powers on the FNTA.
The developments come after the ENPO announced a public rally and shutdown across the eastern districts on July 10 to protest the delay in implementing the agreement. The state government has appealed to the organisation to reconsider its proposed agitation, citing the steps being taken to establish the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority.
