PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah hail ‘historic’ agreement on Eastern Nagaland

New Delhi, Feb 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described the agreement on Eastern Nagaland as a “historic” step that would accelerate development and bring new opportunities to the region, underlining the Centre’s commitment to peace and inclusive growth in the Northeast. The PM was replying to a message of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who welcomed the signing of the agreement, calling it a major breakthrough in resolving long-pending issues related to Eastern Nagaland. In a post on X, Amit Shah said, “Today a historic agreement was signed between Govt of India, Govt of Nagaland and ENPO, resolving decades-long pending issues of Eastern Nagaland. It is a giant step towards realising Modi Ji’s vision for a peaceful and prosperous Northeast by resolving all contentious issues.”

In a message, the Prime Minister said, “This is a historic agreement indeed, which will enhance the development trajectory of Eastern Nagaland in particular. I am sure it will open new avenues of opportunity and prosperity for the people. It reflects our unwavering commitment to peace, progress, and inclusive growth in the Northeast.” The agreement was signed between the Government of India, the Government of Nagaland and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), which represents several tribal bodies from the eastern districts of the state. The demand for a separate administrative arrangement for Eastern Nagaland has been pending for decades, with tribal organisations arguing that the region has remained economically and infrastructurally underdeveloped compared to the rest of the state. The ENPO had long sought a separate state, Frontier Nagaland, citing historical neglect, poor connectivity, limited healthcare and education facilities, and governance challenges. The issue gained renewed urgency in recent years, leading to prolonged negotiations between the Centre, the state government and ENPO representatives, culminating in the present agreement aimed at addressing administrative, developmental, and political concerns of the region.