Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said there is enough room for discussion on the Naga issue and a solution will be found if talks continue.
The Chief Minister, who is also the Convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), reached Dimapur late on Thursday night to meet and get acquainted with the Core Committee on Naga Political Issues (CCONPI) headed by Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio. With the latest development itself following the meeting on 28 May when the core committee met the Isaac-Muivah National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).
After an hour-long meeting with the CCONPI delegation, Sarma said, “Although every complex issue has hurdles, with discussion all concerns can be resolved. We are confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and The Naga issue will be resolved in due course of time under the mature stance of the NSCN-IM.
“The Naga political issue is a very complex and sensitive issue. Unresolved issues should be discussed at the negotiating table. The Center has already appointed AK Mishra as an interlocutor on Naga issues. In the concern of Nagaland, the Chief Minister will talk to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. I will coordinate the Chief Minister of Nagaland; This is the protocol,” Dr Sarma said.
Sarma had clarified to the media that his role was “limited” and he would not be able to “mediate in such a large and complex issue”. The NEDA convener said, “At the political level and with the political leadership of BJP, NDPP and NPF, we keep talking as all are within NEDA. Hence, my role is limited to interacting only with our NEDA partners. and no further.”
This was the second time that NEDA Convenor Dr Sarma visited Dimapur, the business hub of Nagaland, to discuss the Naga political issue. He had last visited the state on September 21 last year and held talks with the NSCN-IM in the presence of the Nagaland chief minister.
Apart from Rio, the CCoNPI members present at the meeting included former chief minister, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) president TR Zeliang, Kuzholuzzo (Azo) Ninu, Niba Kronu, G. Kaito Ai, Matsubo Jamir, Paiwang Konyak, Jacob Zimmomi, Pangnyu Phom, YM Yolo, Tongpang Ozukum, R. Khing, Imkong L. Imchen, Yitachu, K. Khalo, Dr. Ngangshi AO, H. Haiying and Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak.
Earlier, the CCoNPI and the NSCN-IM in a meeting on May 28 had considered involving the services of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the Indo-Naga political dialogue. The CCoNPI had proposed the name of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to facilitate the ongoing peace talks between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India.
The CCoNPI comprises all 60 members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and two Members of Parliament. NEDA convener Dr Sarma, who is very close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, held a meeting with CCONPI members including Nagaland Chief Minister and government representative AK Mishra on the Naga political issue in September last year. Rio, along with other CONPI members, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi in April and urged the central government to expedite peace talks.
The interlocutor then visited the headquarters of the NSCN-IM camp Hebron near Dimapur and held discussions with NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingleng Muivah and several other Naga leaders and the chief minister in April. Assam Chief Minister said in Guwahati on Wednesday that the Naga political issue is a complex issue and should be left to the government. India And NSCN-IM and everyone else should refrain from commenting on this issue.
The NSCN-IM on Wednesday accused the central government’s representative of giving “misinterpretation to mislead the common people” for the peace talks. “But the representatives of the Government of India have started misinterpreting it to confuse the common people. Without naming Mishra, a statement by NSCN-IM said, “We also feel apprehensive about the secret conspiracy to make another pact on the Nagas or hijack the issue through their surrogates.”
The Center has been in separate talks with the NSCN-IM since 1997 and the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) since 2017. It signed a Framework Agreement with NSCN-IM on 3 August 2015 and an agreed-upon position with NNPG on November 3. 17, 2017.
However, no final solution has been found with the NSCN-IM sticking to the demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas.
Elections to the 60-member Nagaland Assembly are expected to be held in February-March next year and all political parties and state governments are eager to resolve the much-awaited issue before the elections.
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