Solution to Indo-Naga issue unlikely before Lok Sabha polls
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy: The Sentinel

New Delhi, December 15 2013: Keeping all speculations aside for a solution to the decade old Indo-Naga imbroglio, the incumbent interlocutor for the government-NSCN (IM) talks, RS Pandey, on Saturday said that the deal is unlikely to be stamped before the coming Lok Sabha elections.

"We don't have enough time for the Lok Sabha elections.

The issue is complex, which needs to take all sections of people into consideration," said Pandey, a day after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here.

"A political will is also very much necessary to bring an early solution to the problem," he said.

Pandey resigned from the post of the interlocutor.

Admitting the fact that the issues raised by Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur in this regard must have to be taken into consideration before finalizing any deal with the NSCN (IM), Pandey said that the Centre has already started discussions with these State governments.

The government although ruled out the possibility of a "greater Nagalim" comprising Naga inhabited areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, it (Centre) is exploring the possibilities to give more recognition to the Nagas living in these three States.

Pandey who had initiated the talks with the NSCN (IM) since 2010 said that the peace talks had reached a significant stage, "although the outfit has submitted a latest charter of demands in 2011" .

It is learnt that the latest charter of demands submitted by the outfit doesn't include the demands for sovereignty, unification of Naga areas and Nagalim.

For now, the Union Home Ministry needs to look for a replacement of Pandey.

"Of course, a politician could also be an interlocutor," said Pandey who had also worked as the petroleum secretary before taking the responsibility of an interlocutor.

New Delhi and the collective leadership of the NSCN-IM are likely to sit for another round of talks on Tuesday.

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