Nagaland CM Rio pushes Centre to break Naga peace deadlock

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday called for an early and honourable solution to the long-standing Naga Political Issue and urged the Centre to expedite the operationalisation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).

Addressing the state-level Independence Day celebration at the Civil Secretariat Plaza in Kohima, Rio said the Naga Political Issue remained unresolved and acknowledged the people's continued demand for an early settlement.

He urged the Centre to reach out to all negotiating parties with urgency and clarity, saying the state government would continue to act as an active facilitator for an “honourable and acceptable Solution”.

Rio recalled the broad-based consultative meeting held in September 2024, which brought together tribal bodies, civil society organisations, churches, NGOs, student groups and political parties. The meeting had called for the peace talks to be elevated to the highest political level through an interlocutor with political or ministerial authority.

He said the demand was reiterated during his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on February 5, following which the Centre constituted a committee headed by the Minister of State for Home Affairs to lead the Naga peace talks.

On Eastern Nagaland, Rio said the state government supported the demand for the FNTA to address the developmental deficit and aspirations of the region.

He referred to the February 5 Memorandum of Agreement between the Centre, Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for the constitution of the FNTA within Nagaland, calling it a historic milestone and assuring the region of the state's fullest cooperation for its early constitution and operationalisation.

On law and order, Rio said Nagaland remained largely peaceful but condemned the IED blast in Chümoukedima district targeting an Assam Rifles vehicle, which killed one personnel and grievously injured four others. He said those responsible must be brought to justice and noted that the National Investigation Agency had taken over the probe.

Rio also highlighted the state's “War on Drugs”, saying more than 407 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act had been registered and 677 accused arrested between January 2024 and May 2026.

The chief minister outlined several development initiatives covering road and air connectivity, education, healthcare, sports, skill development, drinking water, power, agriculture and tourism.

Among the projects he cited were the proposed IIT at Ciethu, a greenfield AIIMS at Nagaki City, the development of Nagaki as an incubation city and a tripartite agreement signed in June 2026 with Assam and the Centre for oil and natural gas exploration in the Disputed Area Belt.

The state also launched the Nagaland Integrated Information System, Education Management Information System and a 10 MW solar power plant at Hovukhu in Niuland.

The official celebrations, however, were marked by a boycott by the influential Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), which opposed the mandatory singing of the full version of “Vande Mataram” at official functions.

Students did not participate in the official programme after the NSF directed its federating and subordinate bodies to boycott Independence Day programmes until the directive was withdrawn.

The NSF said its objection was not to Independence Day celebrations or national symbols, but to compulsory participation in the song, citing concerns over religious imagery, individual conscience and constitutional protections, including Article 371A.

NSF volunteers were deployed at strategic locations in Kohima and other districts to enforce the boycott, while schools and educational institutions refrained from deploying students, including NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides, for the parade.

NSF vice-president Vimeyiekho Vitso told PTI that the boycott was a “success” in Kohima and other districts where its federating units enforced it.

Police, however, described the boycott appeal as voluntary and said no official complaint had been received about anyone being forcibly prevented from attending the celebrations.

Rio concluded his address by calling on the people of Nagaland to work together towards a more developed, self-reliant and prosperous state.