Political negotiation with NSCN (IM) : Modi Govt assures solution within 18 months
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 31 2015 :
In a significant development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured a solution to the Indo-Naga peace talk within the next 18 months.
Several rounds of peace parleys have been held between the Government of India and NSCN-IM leadership since the two sides signed a cease fire agreement on August 1, 1997 .
According to a well placed source, the Government of India assured NSCN-IM leadership in December last year that the political dialogue would be brought to a logical conclusion within the next 18 months.
However, no one is sure when political dialogue will start between Government of India, Government of Manipur and the two conglomerates of Kuki UG groups namely UPF and KNO.
The matter could not be settled as both UPF and KNO have been insisting that the political dialogue be held at Delhi.
The political dialogue between NSCN-IM and New Delhi may arrive at a solution by November or December this year.
NSCN-IM leaders are quite impressed with the new initiatives taken up by the Government of India to expedite the peace process.
The Government of India's decision to alleviate interlocutor RN Ravi to Cabinet status is a very significant step towards expediting the peace process.
Former interlocutor K Padmanabhaih was not given Cabinet status.
As such, the latest developments of the peace parleys could not reach the Government of India on time.
It took considerable time seeking appointments with the Prime Minister.
With RN Ravi now given Cabinet status, he can meet and apprise the Prime Minister any time about the latest developments of the political dialogue.
On being enquired about the possible outcome/solution of the protracted dialogue, the source maintained that only the collective leadership of NSCN-IM would have a fair idea about the possible solution.
At the moment, no one can say for sure about a possible solution to the dialogue as all the proposals/demands would be negotiated and trimmed down before the two sides come to an amicable settlement.
Nonetheless, the Government of India's open acknowledgement about the uniqueness of Naga history is very significant and meaningful.
Perhaps, NSCN-IM leadership are expecting a unique solution as India has already acknowledged that the Naga history is very 'unique' .
However, NSCN-IM's collective leadership have not been divulging any substantial point to the public, added the source.