Kohima (PTI): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday said that the demand for a separate state by the people of the eastern part of the state is ‘not wrong’.

Eastern Nagaland comprises six districts – Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator – which are inhabited by seven tribes of Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir and Yimkhiung.

“Nagas, we speak our mind and it is not wrong for them (Eastern Nagaland people) to say what their thinking and desire is but all these issues will be resolved,” Rio said.

During a function here, the chief minister was asked by reporters about Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO) deciding not to participate in the ensuing Hornbill Festival and also asking 20 legislators from the region to resign in support of their demand for a separate state.

“We are talking with them and will give an appointment to ENPO during the Union home minister's (proposed) visit to the state. If the Prime Minister also comes, we will request him to have a talk with them,” Rio said.

The clamour for the separate state in Eastern Nagaland has gained momentum ahead of the Assembly polls due early next year, with the 20 MLAs from the region extending support to a call not to take part in any election until the demand is met.

The chief minister, however, said that the state government is yet to receive any final schedule for the proposed visit of the home minister or the Prime Minister.

On ENPO's decision not to participate in Hornbill Festival, Rio said it will be held as usual and every tribe should take part. It is a responsibility of the state, and one cannot dishonour the state but all have to take responsibility to make it successful, Rio added.

The ENPO has been demanding 'Frontier Nagaland' since 2010, alleging "negligence" by the government in all aspects of development after 58 years of statehood for Nagaland.

It has declared not to participate in any election, including the 2023 assembly poll, until their demand is fulfilled.

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New Delhi, Nov 21: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday launched the Karnataka Milk Federation's (KMF) Nandini brand milk products in the Delhi-NCR market, pricing them marginally lower than competitors to gain a foothold in the region.

The cooperative will retail four cow milk variants, curd, and buttermilk from Friday, with competitive pricing that undercuts established players like Mother Dairy and Amul.

Cow milk will be sold at Rs 56 per litre, full Cream Milk at Rs 67 per litre, Standardised Milk at Rs 61 per litre, Toned Milk at Rs 55 per litre, and curd at Rs 74 per kg.

"We have surplus milk in the state. KMF along with Mandya Milk Union will market surplus milk of 3-4 lakh litres per day in Delhi-NCR," Siddaramaiah told reporters after launching the products.

The federation currently collects 100 lakh litres of milk daily, with local consumption at 60 lakh litres, leaving a surplus of 40 lakh litres for expansion into new markets.

However, the Chief Minister acknowledged the challenges of transporting milk over 2,500 km, which takes 50-54 hours.

There is a need to find new markets for surplus milk and gradually the KMF should be able to sell 5-6 lakh litres per day in Delhi-NCR, he added.

KMF Chairman LBP Bheemanaik assured that milk quality would be maintained during transit.

The federation has already partnered with 40 dealers in the Delhi-NCR region to facilitate sales, he added.

With a robust infrastructure of 26.76 lakh milk producers, 15,737 dairy cooperative societies, and 15 district milk unions, KMF has a turnover of Rs 25,000 crore and exports dairy products to over 25 countries.

State Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh and Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy were present at the product launch.