Chief Minister Rio discusses demand for separate 'Frontier Nagaland' with Chidambaram

New Delhi -  Nagaland Chief Minister Nephiu Rio, who met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram here on Monday, discussed the demand for a separate 'Frontier Nagaland'.

Rio described his talks with Chidambaram as fruitful.

"Well, it is all about problems the in Nagaland state. We had a very good meeting and the Home Secretary will be giving a press release. So, till the Home Ministry gives a press release, I  don't want to comment," he said.

The Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) has been demanding the 'Frontier Nagaland' carving out four border districts of Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng.

They reiterated their demand when Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh visited Nagaland last week, where he met the leaders of tribal councils, civil society organizations and civil  administration and Assam Rifles officials.

The ENPO had earlier in 2010 submitted a memorandum before Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in support of its demand, asserting that only a separate state for six tribes, inhabiting the  frontier areas, would bring about socio-economic development in the border region.

When the Central Government had asked the Nagaland Government to give its view on the memorandum, the state government had then opposed further division of Nagaland, and

recommended for an autonomous council, devoluting maximum possible legislative, financial and administrative powers to the people of the backward eastern part of Nagaland.

The Nagaland Government appointed two high-power committees last year to recommend to the government short and long term measures. The ENPO, however, rejected the  recommendations and intensified its demand for 'Frontier Nagaland'.