The Nagaland Cabinet has decided to convene a special session of the State Assembly to enact legislation for the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) and will seek the Centre’s approval to grant legislative powers to the new body.
The decision was taken at an emergency Cabinet meeting held on Monday, attended by members of the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) and senior government officials. The Cabinet also resolved to request the Centre to enhance the proposed development package for eastern Nagaland from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore.
According to a statement issued by the Home Department, the move comes amid rising concerns over delays in implementing the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on February 5 between the Centre, the Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) for the creation of the FNTA.
The developments gain significance ahead of the ENPO’s proposed public rally and shutdown across eastern districts on July 10, called in protest against the delay in implementing the agreement.
The government stated that the proposed legislation would include provisions to vest the FNTA with legislative authority over subjects and departments transferred to it within its jurisdiction. However, such provisions would be subject to consultations with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), its approval, and compliance with constitutional provisions.
It also noted that although the FNTA Bill had been drafted and introduced during the budget session of the Assembly, its passage was deferred after the MHA indicated that constitutional issues related to granting legislative powers to the authority were still under examination.
The Cabinet reaffirmed that constitutional safeguards under Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India remain inviolable and would neither be diluted nor amended.
To take the matter forward, a delegation led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, along with members of the ENLU, will visit New Delhi to seek the Centre’s guidance, approval, and support for the proposed legislation.
Meanwhile, the state government has appealed to the ENPO to withdraw its planned July 10 rally and shutdown, stating that concrete steps are being taken to facilitate the establishment of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority.
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