NEW DELHI: No further delay. That's the message around after many months of stalemate and hiccups with regard the 27-year-old Naga peace talks.
"By now, everyone knows about the Government of India's commitment to give a solution to the Naga political issue and things are expected at the earliest," a source said.
In fast-paced developments in the last few days, the Union Government has put the "final and unfinished stages" of Naga peace talks on a faster track. While key stakeholders NSCN (IM) and NNPG are already on the scene, the core committee of State legislators headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Y Patton (Deputy Chief Minister and BJP floor leader in the Assembly) and former Chief Minister TR Zeliang are arriving in Delhi by Sunday or Monday. They are likely to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
At the directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah is personally monitoring and reviewing things.
Shah invited veteran Naga leader Dr SC Jamir, a former Governor of Gujarat, and met him on Friday evening.
Sources said that Jamir has made "a few important suggestions" so that things are not delayed further and a final peace pact is inked by all important stakeholders at the earliest.
The meeting was 'fruitful', the source said. Jamir had last month met Prime Minister Modi and held detailed discussions with him.
One delegation of ten NSCN (IM) leaders is camping in Delhi and interacting with AK Mishra, the Government's peace emissary, and others. NNPG convener N Kitovi Zhimomi also landed in the capital on Friday afternoon.
The Union Government's representatives met the 10-member NSCN (IM) delegation during the last few days (Thursday and Friday) and tried to impress upon them the urgency to agree to the solution.
Sources said that the Union Government has made it clear that there can be no reconsideration of the twin demands of separate Flag and separate Naga Constitution as demanded by the NSCN (IM).
In fact, the second meeting between Central Government's representatives and the NSCN (IM) delegation led by VS Atem took place on Friday at the request of the militant group, as they wanted to deliberate on certain issues all over again.
Both sides have remained tightlipped so far regarding the details.
The next two-three days of deliberations between Central Government's representatives and various stakeholders, including NNPG leaders, NSCN (IM) delegation and Core Committee members, will be vital.
Home Minister Shah, during his recent visit to Guwahati, had met Naga leaders, including Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
The Naga peace talks were kicked off during the tenure of IK Gujral as the Prime Minister. Earlier, his predecessor HD Deve Gowda had met NSCN (IM) leaders Late Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah at Zurich in February, 1997, kicking off the parleys.
There have been various complexities in Naga peace parleys, unlike the Mizo talks in the mid-1980s.
In October, 2019, the parleys had ended but in the subsequent period, it hit roadblocks after the NSCN (IM) raised the twin issues of separate Flag and a Naga Constitution.
Prior to that, on August 3, 2015, a Framework Agreement was signed by the then negotiator RN Ravi, now Tamil Nadu Governor, with NSCN (IM). A similar Agreed Position Agreement was inked with NNPG, an umbrella organization of seven Naga militant groups.
The NNPG is desirous of an early solution and inking of a final Peace Pact.
Signing of a peace pact has become all the more important and urgent as the tenure of the 13th Nagaland Assembly would end soon and elections are due in Nagaland by February-March, 2023.
Peace emissary AK Mishra, a former senior official of the Intelligence Bureau, recently held hectic parleys with various Naga political groups and leaders of civil society organizations during his stay in Dimapur in an attempt to sense public mood and iron out differences for an early resolution of pending issues. (IANS)
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