Talks on FNTA moving smoothly — Minister KG Kenye

KOHIMA — Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye on Thursday said that talks on the issue of Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) are progressing smoothly.

Speaking at a press conference in Kohima, he expressed hope that the Centre would act sincerely, avoid delays, and expedite the process.

Kenye recalled that the Centre held talks with Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) in August and September, while the state government has already furnished its recommendations after consultations with the Centre on several points.

He said that although many points have been agreed upon, certain areas still require reconsideration, which remain the focus of ongoing discussions.

To address these issues in detail, Kenye stated that a sub-committee has been formed by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms (P&AR) department along with ENPO members. He described this as a new development and expressed hope that it would help resolve the core matters holding back further progress.

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He explained that the crux of the discussions revolves around the dissolution of the FNTA’s executive council, management in the event of a constitutional breakdown, funding patterns, and appointments in the region.

Kenye ruled out any constitutional amendment to Article 371(A) while expressing optimism that these issues will be resolved through deliberation.

Reservation and RIIN

The minister also addressed the reservation row, stating that following submissions by the five tribes, tribal representatives will be replaced by senior government officials.

Former government official R Ramakrishnan has agreed to head the commission, with other ex-officio members from the Home, Law & Justice, Higher & Technical Education, and P&AR departments. Appointment orders are expected shortly, and the tenure will be six months.

Read more: MHA assured draft on Frontier Nagaland Territory after tripartite meet, says ENPO

Kenye also shared the possibility of renaming the body from ‘Job Reservation Commission’ to ‘Commission for Review of Reservation’ to reflect its broader mandate beyond employment.

On Indigenous issues, he said that the state government will consult all stakeholders and urged the public not to be agitated regarding the implementation of RIIN and enumeration of the Kuki, Garo, Kachari, and Karbi (formerly Mikir) communities.

He clarified that the process aims to identify proper citizens prior to 1963 and is not discriminatory.