The Nagaland government is making all attempts to convince the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) to review it’s 14 October CEC resolution and participate in the forthcoming State Hornbill Festival.

Even during the meeting convened by the Chief Minister with the ENPO on 26 November at Police Complex, Chümoukedima, the ENPO had stated that they are firm on their resolution.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Chairman and former chief minister T R Zeliang on Monday asserted that the Cabinet had held a meeting with the Eastern MLAs and officials from the ENPO at the Naga Heritage Kisama today to make a final attempt to convince the ENPO to review their resolution and participate in the State Hornbill Festival.

The Cabinet in today’s meeting have clearly conveyed that the Hornbill Festival has got nothing to do with state demand or autonomous demand and that the festival is considered as our culture and tradition and it is “self respecting the festival and not for any particular tribe”, he informed.

“All the Nagas should respect themselves so we have to uplift our culture and tradition,” added Zeliang.

The state government is not standing on the way for ENPO’s demand for a separate statehood and the Nagaland government has already recommended the central government to consider, he stated, adding that it is up to the central government now whether or not to consider the matter.

He also said in order to pursue the matter further, the Chief Minister has already taken the appointment to meet the Union Home Minister on 3 December.

Zeliang was of the view that the ENPO can pursue their demand but that the local activities taking place in the state like the Hornbill Festival has nothing to do with the demand for statehood since the festival is held only to uphold the Naga culture and traditions.

“We told them very clearly that this Hornbill Festival is considered as our culture and tradition and it is self respecting the festival, not for any particular tribe. All the Nagas should respect themselves so we have to uplift our culture and tradition. It has got nothing to do with state demand or autonomous demand,” stated Zeliang.

Zeliang further said the cabinet have requested all the Eastern MLAs to convince their respective tribal Hohos and explain to them. He exuded hope that they would return with a positive report.

Zeliang also informed that they are looking forward to meeting the NSCN-IM delegation who are in Delhi in the first week of December.

“We will try to collect the information because after that hiccup we have discussed with Home Minister and Interlocutor and they have decided to talk based on Ravi formulation paper and Framework Agreement,” said Zeliang.