Amid reports suggesting that the Centre may grant a separate constitutional provision under Article 371 for the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory Administration (FNTA), Nagaland Government Spokesperson and Power Minister, KG Kenye  said if this new entity will be under Article 371 (K), it would mean that something outside of Article 371 (A) is being created. “And it’s no more a part of Article 371 (A) because it will get a new chapter. The state would have nothing to do with it anymore. So before you proceed, there are certain areas we have to ascertain,” he added.

Highlighting this suggestion as a major cause of concern, the Minister, while addressing a press conference on August 6 at Hotel Japfü, Kohima, pointed out that there will be no bifurcation of the state as a whole. Rather, it will be a component within 371(A) in the state.

He mentioned that the Cabinet on August 6, in one part of their deliberation, more or less started implying that there would be a new Article, and it is supposed to have been a suggestion made by people at the Centre.

Claiming it as one of the reasons for concern, Kenye said, “We want to hear it from the horse’s mouth.” He added that voting rights, ex-officio members, the proposed 40-something members of the regional council, the present 20 legislators, or the government nominees—everything will depend on the status of the new entity, the FNTA—whether it will be a component arranged from within 371(A), or whether they will be given a new Article.

Kenye highlighted that the ENPO/ENLU never meant that they would go out of Article 371 (A). However, what is actually taking place should not contradict each other, as that would be catastrophic for us.

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The Minister also mentioned that while the state supports the demand for administrative, financial, and judicial autonomy for the Eastern region, the state and the people are concerned about whether they are going to be bifurcated by way of giving them a new Article, and whether 371(A) is going to again come under scrutiny by the Parliament.

“So, Article 371(B), like Assam—they already have two autonomous councils, Karbi Anglong and Bodoland. ‘B’ has never been bifurcated. Neither has a new Article been born out of it; it remains intact, whereas the components have been fitted within it. Why can’t we have something like that?” Kenye stated.