Nagaland Cabinet Plans Special Assembly Session for Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority
Nagaland Cabinet's Key Decisions
File image of ENPO president A Chingmak Chang along with other delegates during the singing of tripartite FNTA Agreement in February. (Photo: @AmitShah/meta)
Kohima, Jul 7: The cabinet of Nagaland has decided to hold a special assembly session aimed at creating legislation for the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), while also seeking the central government's approval to grant legislative powers to this new body.
During an emergency meeting on Monday, the cabinet, along with members of the Eastern Nagaland Legislators' Union (ENLU) and senior officials, resolved to request an increase in the proposed development package for the region from ₹5,000 crore to ₹10,000 crore.
A delegation led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, accompanied by ENLU members, is set to travel to New Delhi to seek guidance and approval from the central government regarding these matters.
These decisions were made public through a statement from the Home Department, which highlighted concerns over the delays in executing the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on February 5 between the central government, the Nagaland government, and the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) for the establishment of the FNTA.
The ENPO has announced plans for a public rally and shutdown in the eastern districts on July 10 due to the ongoing delays in implementing the agreement.
In light of the government's actions to establish the FNTA, officials have urged the ENPO to reconsider its planned public rally and shutdown.
The proposed legislation aims to grant the FNTA legislative powers over specific subjects and departments within its jurisdiction, contingent upon consultation with and approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and in accordance with the Constitution.
Previously, the state had drafted and introduced the FNTA Bill during the Budget session, but its passage was postponed after the MHA indicated that constitutional concerns regarding the authority's legislative powers were still being reviewed.
The cabinet reaffirmed that the protections under Article 371(A) are "sacred and sacrosanct" and will remain unchanged.