DIMAPUR, Oct 31: The Nagaland government has reiterated its commitment to advancing discussions on the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) — a key demand of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) — while underscoring that any arrangement must remain within the framework of Article 371(A) of the Constitution.

Government spokesperson and Minister K.G. Kenye said the dialogue process has entered a “new and delicate phase,” necessitating close coordination among all stakeholders, including the ENPO and the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU).

“It has been a year since we clarified that this cannot remain a bilateral dialogue between the ENPO and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The process must be trilateral, involving the state government as well,” Kenye stated during a media briefing.

He emphasized that the Neiphiu Rio-led cabinet views the FNTA issue as one that directly concerns Nagaland’s territorial integrity and governance, assuring that citizens will be kept informed throughout the process.

According to the minister, the government has been holding extensive consultations with public representatives and organisations to draft recommendations that could serve as a mutually agreeable framework once the FNTA is established.

Kenye also clarified misconceptions surrounding the proposed arrangement, asserting that the FNTA would not be a Union Territory, a Sixth Schedule area, nor a revival of the 1960s Regional Council, but rather a mechanism aimed at ensuring equitable development and representation for the people of Eastern Nagaland.

The FNTA demand, spearheaded by the ENPO, seeks greater administrative autonomy for six eastern districts of Nagaland — Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Shamator, and Noklak — citing decades of developmental neglect and underrepresentation.