
Eastern Naga students burn effigies of PM Modi, Shah, BJP chief Nadda
Addressing the gathering, ENSF President Chingmak Chang highlighted the disappointment felt by Eastern Nagas over unfulfilled promises made by the Centre.
Kohima: In a bold display of frustration, the Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF) took to the streets of Tuensang on Wednesday to voice their discontent with the Government of India’s failure to address their demands for a Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT).
Effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda were set ablaze during the protest.
Addressing the gathering, ENSF President Chingmak Chang highlighted the disappointment felt by Eastern Nagas over unfulfilled promises made by the Centre. He specifically referenced assurances given by Amit Shah ahead of last year’s state elections, pledging executive, legislative, and financial autonomy for Eastern Nagas within 75 days.
With no progress made on these commitments even a year later, Chang emphasised that the burning of effigies served as a symbolic expression of Eastern Nagas’ resentment.
Chang said that the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) is determination to continue protesting until their demands are met. Protestors echoed their discontent with chants of “Modi sarkar murdabad” (down with the Modi government) and “we want FNT.”
A day ahead of the protest, the ENSF and its federating units issued directives to the Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament S Phangnon Konyak and 20 other legislators from Eastern Nagaland to converge at Tuensang headquarters by 6 PM on March 14.
Additionally, officials from frontal organisations, tribal bodies, and ENPO officials stationed at Tuensang were directed to remain in Tuensang till the parliamentarian and elected representatives arrived.
The move comes amid a declared state of public emergency across the region, prompted by the prolonged delay by the Government of India in addressing the FNT proposal through the Ministry of Home Affairs.