Centre engages NSCN-IM leaders for Naga peace talks

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 7

The Centre today resumed negotiations with the NSCN-IM leadership as part of the last leg of talks for the Naga peace as the efforts are on to resolve the three contentious issues — flag, constitution and territory — and ink a “final settlement” before the Independence Day.

Sources said the talks between senior officials and NSCN-IM leaders, led by its 86-year-old general secretary Thuengaleng Muivah, were being held at an undisclosed location in the national capital where representatives of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal were also present.

Meanwhile, they also confirmed that the Prime Minister’s special envoy for the Naga peace talks RN Ravi, who is also the Governor of Nagaland, would reach the national capital early next week to join the talks.

The NSCN-IM has all along been demanding territorial integration of all Naga-inhabited areas of the north-eastern region of the country.

Sources said Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been admitted to a hospital after being tested Covid positive, has constantly been monitoring the progress made at the meeting.

It is to be noted here that the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG), a conglomerate of seven other organisations, which is also a part of the dialogue process, is reported to have already said that it had successfully closed its negotiations with the Centre.

The stumbling block

According to an MHA official, the presence of three north-eastern states’ representatives is significant as the NSCN-IM has been claiming parts of their territories for Greater Nagalim.