Kohima 12 August : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said on Friday that he is optimistic that the Central government and the NSCN-IM will soon settle all issues relating to the ongoing Naga political dispute. The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-led Nagaland government has previously on a number of occasions demanded the Central government to end talks with Naga.
Naga peace talks prior to Assembly elections scheduled for early next year.
In a press conference, Rio, the top leader of the NDPP spoke to the media, saying that the committee’s core regarding Naga political issues met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and discussed the Naga peace talks issue.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present in the meeting.
The Nagaland Chief Minister stated that the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and the Centre’s interlocutors A.K.Mishra will hold talks to resolve the vital Naga politics.
Mishra, who was the former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau, had since last year, visited Kohima, Dimapur and the headquarters of the NSCN-IM camp Hebron (near Dimapur), and had talks with Thuingaleng Muivah, the General Secretary of the NSCN-IM and others Naga leaders.
The NSCN-IM’s insisting on a distinct Naga flag and Constitution is now a major obstacle in solving the Naga issue.
After signing a ceasefire accord with the NSCN-IM in 1997 The Central government has conducted over 85 rounds of discussions with the NSCN-IM and the other Naga groups.
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