Tax to UGs, tribe recognition dominate talk menu in Nagaland
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, July 26 2013 : Issues of the recognition of Naga tribes from outside Nagaland state, paying of tax to underground outfits and now Frontier Nagaland issue have been dominating the household talks of Nagaland since the beginning of this year while the talks of early solution of Naga political issue dominated last year.

Recognition of Rongmei tribe as one of the indigenous tribes of Nagaland by the Neiphiu Rio government and the move to recognise the Mao tribe had prompted the formation of Nagaland Tribal Council (NTC).

The Naga Hoho has strongly opposed to the formation of NTC.

The NTC has been demanding that the state government of Nagaland de-recognises the Rongmei tribe in Nagaland.

Amidst this development, the pandemonium on the rampant paying of taxes to the Naga underground organisations cropped up and the formation of Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) was seen.

Bandhs and rallies were already held against the rampant imposition of taxes by various organisations on the business establishments and on the common people organised by ACAUT.

Meanwhile, observers in Nagaland speculated that the demand for the creation of 'Frontier Nagaland', a new statehood demanded by the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) will create further imbroglio in Nagaland in the days to come.

On Wednesday, rallies were simultaneously held in the four districts of Kiphire, Tuensang, Mon and Longleng.

the ENPO leaders demanded that the government of India immediately starts the dialogue on the 'Frontier Nagaland' state creation by carving out the four districts from Nagaland state.

ENPO had rejected special economic package of Rs.300 crore for eastern Nagaland by the government.

The ENPO's demand for the creation of 'Frontier Nagaland' was peaked in 2011 accusing the successive Nagaland governments of meting out step-motherly treatments to the four eastern districts of Nagaland.

Two years ago, Nagas in four Nagaland districts had carried out massive public rallies demanding the creation of a new state christened as 'Frontier Nagaland' by bifurcating Nagaland.

The ENPO, which is the apex organization of six Naga tribes including Konyak, Khiamniungan, Chang, Yimchunger, Sangtam and Phom inhabiting the four districts, had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister urging him to realize the demand.

"Our demand for the creation of Frontier Nagaland is based on historical facts.

This is something like going back to the earlier arrangement when the entire area was under the erstwhile Tuensang Frontier Division of NEFA," ENPO stated.

Prior to Nagaland's attainment of statehood in 1963, the entire area was under the Tuensang Frontier Division of NEFA.

Mon, Kiphire and Longleng districts were carved out of Tuensang post-statehood.

According to ENPO, for decades, gross injustice has been done to the people of these four districts by the successive governments, both in the state and at the centre.

Of the 11 districts in Nagaland, these four backward districts have almost half of the state's total population.

But despite that, they continue to remain extremely under-developed, the ENPO leaders lamented.

"It is a democratic and people's movement based on fundamental issues.

The people in the four districts have their wholehearted support to it," an ENPO leader had said.

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