No Final Pact on Naga Groups; Assam, Manipur to Be Consulted

Talks to find a lasting solution to the 7-decade-old insurgency problem in Nagaland continued for the fourth day.

Image of a Naga rebel used for representational purposes.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Nagaland interlocutor RN Ravi, on Thursday, 31 October, said that the discussions to finalise the Naga peace accord are ongoing and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) had come on board. He told The Hindu that the accord has not been finalised yet and the matters are being discussed.

The Centre will consult all stakeholders including the states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh before finalisation of any settlement, a Home Ministry statement said earlier in the day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been apprised about the latest developments and some agreement will be signed soon, a senior government official was quoted by the daily as saying. However, its still not clear if the accord will be signed till 2 November, ahead of PM Modi’s trip to Thailand.

In its statement, the Union Home Ministry said that it has come to the government's notice that lot of rumours and misinformation is being spread in the media including social media that the final Naga settlement has been arrived at and will be announced soon.

“This is creating anxiety and concern in some parts of the country. It is clarified that before any settlement is arrived at with Naga groups, all stakeholders including states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will be duly consulted and their concerns will be taken into consideration. No credence needs to be given to such rumours and incorrect information.”

Home Ministry Statement

Centre, States Oppose NSCN-IM’s Demand

The central government has already rejected the NSCN-IM's demand for unification of Naga inhabited areas located in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The three northeastern states have also vehemently opposed it.

Meanwhile, normal life was paralysed in many parts of Manipur on Thursday due to "cease-work" stir called in support of the demand that the state's territorial integrity and administrative set up should not be affected by the Naga peace talks.

The talks to find a lasting solution to the seven-decade-old insurgency problem in Nagaland continued for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, with the Centre's interlocutor and Nagaland Governor RN Ravi holding discussions with the NSCN-IM for more than three hours, officials said.

While the dialogue with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) is said to be over, talks with the NSCN-IM, a major insurgent group in the Northeast, has been centered on its demands for a separate flag and Constitution for the Nagas.

The outcome of Thursday's meeting is not known immediately.

The talks were convened in Delhi in a bid to iron out differences, particularly on the NSCN-IM's demands for a separate flag and Constitution for the Nagas, which have already been rejected by the Centre.