Clarity on major issues expected after May 31
Nirendra Dev
NEW DELHI, MAY 28: Things are ‘positive’, informed sources claimed within hours after Nagaland Core Committee, headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, held a four-hour long meeting with key NSCN (IM) leaders, led by VS Atem at Chumukedima near Dimapur.
Nagaland legislators also emphasized that the ongoing talks process should not be derailed and “no major negative decision should be taken during the May 31 meet or later”.
Saturday’s meeting had a special significance of its own as the NSCN (IM) has convened an emergency meeting of its national assembly at its camp headquarters on Tuesday May 31.
“We are keeping track of things at various levels and all stages. Today’s deliberations were positive as even the militant group (NSCN-IM) did not contest the general sentiment of Naga legislators including from BJP that there should be an early solution”, the source said.
The umbrella body, NNPG, has been also strongly in favour of signing of a peace pact to resolve the decades old Naga insurgency and political problem.
“Chief Minister Rio, who has been an ally for over a decade now, is also doing his part”, the source maintained.
The Central Government agencies had last week expressed concern over extortion and money collecting venues at various places in the Sate and the same sentiment was also shared by Governor Jagdish Mukhi.
The Nagaland Home Department has subsequently ordered abolition of many such counters.
“Extortion is a menace, everyone agrees. There should be an early Solution everyone agrees. So it’s all positive and no bitterness and harshness”, the source suggested.
However, there was no clarity yet on the issues of Flag and separate Naga Constitution but the Government of India also feels that “more clarity” would come after the May 31 meeting.
The BJP leaders were not quite happy with exchange of ‘intemperate language’ by some legislators lately on Naga insurgency and maintained that “no genuine party foot soldier should say anything like this”.
“At times extempore speeches can have some slip of tongues…,” a source maintained adding the Naga insurgency-related issues are highly sensitive and so restraints ought to be maintained more so by people, who are in responsible positions.
The main goal should be to work for solution and peace, the source clarified, indicating that concerned Naga legislators at the Core Committee’s meeting with NSCN (IM) leaders on Saturday also maintained that there is “no room for personal harshness”.
BJP floor leader and Deputy CM Y Patton and NPF leader Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu were recently criticized by NSCN (IM) for some of their remarks.
The Core Committee during their Delhi visit had met emissary AK Mishra but at the meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah nothing was discussed about the peace process.
It was revealed that Shah during his visit to Guwahati had met Naga leaders including CM Rio and Deputy CM Y Patton and held detailed discussions on various key matters.
