With the assurance to expedite the process of carving out a separate state (Frontier Nagaland) for the people of eastern Nagaland and with the invitation for a talk by the Union Home Secretary on August 13 at New Delhi, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) has suspended the proposed non-participation in the Independence Day celebration on August 15.
The ENPO had on June 11 last, during its CEC meeting at Tuensang headquarter resolved that public of ENPO area shall abstain from participation in the Independence Day celebration in the event of Government of India’s failure to respond to the demand of ENPO before August 10.
J&K effect
Importantly, with the creation of Ladakh as an Union Territory bifurcated from J&K, the demand from the five districts of Nagaland – Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak – for a separate state of ‘Frontier Nagaland’ has receiving a fillip. In 2016, addressing a public rally in Tuensang, Satyendra Garg, joint secretary (North East) at the Union home ministry, said the demand of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) for a separate state “appears genuine”.
On August 7, when asked about the Ladakh development, and whether they too were hoping for a union territory status, ENPO top leader Toshi Wungtung, though, preferred not to comment.
(Inputs from Nagaland Page / Agencies)