Nagaland Cabinet heading to Delhi, likely to meet MHA

KOHIMA — Nagaland Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, will leave for New Delhi on Tuesday, with meetings likely to include the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Nagaland Government spokesperson and Minister KG Kenye confirmed the trip on Monday.

Earlier at his August 6 press conference, he had indicated the possibility of the Cabinet travelling to Delhi to seek clarification on ongoing negotiations over the Frontier Naga Territorial Authority (FNTA).

Kenye had said at the time, “There are several areas that need clarification. We need to hear it from the horse’s mouth.” Based on this, the Cabinet’s present mission is to seek clarity and interpretation from the MHA on the status of the FNTA talks.

The July 23 tripartite meeting in Delhi between the MHA, Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) representatives, and a state government representative was the latest round of discussions.

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Besides the FNTA issue, the Cabinet is expected to take up the protracted Naga political issue and the recent revision of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which cut the permissible movement along the Indo-Myanmar border from 16 to 10 km and limited it to nine designated crossing points. The state government has urged the Centre to review the decision, citing hardship for border communities.

In his Independence Day address, Rio reiterated that resolution of the Naga political issue remains a top priority of his government. He described the peace process as “a symbol of hope for a lasting solution” and stressed that the state government has acted as an active facilitator.

Referring to eastern Nagaland, he acknowledged a development deficit and said, “Substantial progress has been made on the issue of FNT (Frontier Nagaland Territory) with the latest tripartite talks… I am optimistic that the concerns of the ENPO will be addressed and the issue resolved in the spirit of brotherhood.”

Following the Cabinet’s return, a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) is also expected. The visit comes ahead of the Seventh Session of the Fourteenth Nagaland Legislative Assembly, scheduled to begin on September 2.