Stalled parleys revived
Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 8: The highest rate of extortion in Nagaland is a matter of deep concern for the Centre hence all out efforts with renewed intent is on to resolve the Naga political issue.
A delegation of Nagaland legislators and Ministers led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is camping at Delhi to “push for expediting” the peace process and arriving at an early solution.
As key stakeholders in the peace process, the MLAs and CM Rio himself are in favour of an early solution, a source said declining to elaborate.
Sources said key representatives and officials of the Government of India recently visited Northeast including Manipur, Guwahati and Shillong. “The stalled talks have been revived”, an informed source said.
The Central team is now working on a new set of Formulation Papers which would include a new and old set of offers to ink a final peace pact. And the ball will be soon in the court of militant groups, especially the NSCN-IM.
A top military commander of the group is involved in these crucial and final rounds of these discussions.
The Government of India is more than keen and is already running the “extra mile” to achieve the destination of peace, solution and development.
“Elections or no elections, focus is on the Formulation Papers. It’s refreshing…the month of September 2022 is crucial in more ways than one”, the source said.
According to reports, extortion is a major issue of concern as the state of Nagaland recorded the highest rate of crime under ‘extortion and blackmailing’ in 2021 as per an Home Ministry report.
Suggestions, including the desperate need to abrogate ceasefire too, have been made to the Centre from different quarters including elected representatives, a source claimed.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) put the rate of crime for ‘extortion and blackmailing’ in Nagaland at 7.6, the highest among the States/Union Territories in India.
Arunachal Pradesh has the second highest rate of extortion at 5.3.
The All India average during the same period was just 0.8 in 2021.
