Hornbill Festival: Nagaland cabinet holds key meeting with ENPO

Hornbill Festival: Will the ENPO revoke it's decision taken in it's CEC meeting? Govt tries to convince ENPO to participate in Hornbill Fest.

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, Chumukedima the ENPO had stated that they are firm on their resolution.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Chairman and former Chief Minister T.R Zeliang, Monday asserted that the Cabinet 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.

He informed that the Cabinet in today’s meeting have clearly conveyed that 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.

“All the Nagas should respect themselves so we have to uplift our culture and tradition,” added Zeliang.
State government is not standing on the way for ENPO demand for a seperate statehood and the Nagaland governmnt has already recommended the central to consider he stated adding that it is upto the central govt now to consider or not to consider.

He also said inorder 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 ENPO can pursue their demand however, the local activities taking place in the State like Hornbill Festival has nothing to do with the statehood demand since the festival is only to uphold our culture, 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.

Further, Zeliang said the cabinet have requested all the Eastern MLA’s to convince their respective tribal hohos and explain to them. He exuded hope that they will return with a positive report.

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