Kohima: With peace talks between the Centre and various Naga groups seemingly stuck in a stalemate, the Nagaland government has once again emphatically declared its unwavering dedication to securing an early resolution to the long-standing Naga political issue. This resolute stance from the state leadership comes hot on the heels of a significant cabinet meeting in Kohima with A.K. Mishra, the Government of India’s representative for Naga peace talks.
Following the closed-door discussions with Mishra and his team in the Chief Minister’s chamber at the State Civil Secretariat, Minister for Tourism & Higher Education and government spokesperson, Temjen Imna Along, addressed media queries. He clarified that the interaction was a concise yet crucial discussion on the Naga political issue. Along underscored the cabinet’s earnestness on the matter, relaying Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s direct communication to Mishra: the profound aspiration of Nagas is to witness a settlement and solution with utmost expediency. This, he elaborated, is vital for Nagaland to fully partake in the nation’s journey towards a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047,’ an vision shared by all.
Mishra, who arrived in Nagaland on Tuesday, has been engaged in a series of separate, private meetings with various Naga factions. These included the influential NSCN-IM after his arrival, and subsequently, on Wednesday, the two distinct factions of the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) at the Police Complex in Chumoukedima district. The Centre’s negotiations with NSCN-IM, which commenced after a ceasefire was signed in 1997, culminated in the Framework Agreement of August 2015. However, the dialogue has since hit a roadblock over NSCN-IM’s steadfast demands for a separate Naga flag and constitution, along with the integration of Naga-inhabited areas – points the Centre has not yet conceded, thereby delaying the final solution. In a parallel track, the Centre initiated discussions with the WC NNPGs, an alliance of seven Naga groups, in 2017, leading to the signing of the Agreed Position in November of the same year. The WC NNPGs have indicated their willingness to accept an achievable solution for the present, while continuing to press for their remaining demands.
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