RN Ravi likely to meet Naga political groups
Source: The Sangai Express / The Assam Tribune

Dimapur, April 11 2017: RN Ravi, the Government of India's Interlocutor for Naga talks, is likely to meet representatives of the newly formed Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) in Kolkata later this month, according to a local daily here.

Six Naga political groups � GPRN/NSCN, FGN, NNC (parent body), NPGN/NNC (NA), NSCN (R) and NNC/GDRN (NA) � united and formed an interim platform by the name 'Working Group' on December 13, 2016, in the interest of the Naga people as a whole.

On April 8, the Political Affairs Mission (PAM) of Nagaland Assembly led by Chief Minister Dr Sh�rhozelie Lieziets� met with the NNPGs at the Police Complex, Chumukedima here to solicit understanding for a bringing an early solution to the Naga political issue.

RN Ravi likely to meet Naga political groups

The Chief Minister had reportedly stated that the contents were only known to the negotiating parties involved and it would not be advisable to speculate on it.

However, he impressed upon all the need for all sections of Nagas to remain united for a solution.

This was the first sitting of the Political Affairs Mission, which replaced the earlier Political Affairs Committee of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

The NNPG representatives were reported to have said that they intend to pursue a solution for the Nagas of Nagaland since NSCN-IM has been engaged in an exclusive (sans other Naga political groups) negotiation with the Government of India.

The PAM members were said to have requested the NNPG leaders to work for unity among the Naga people.

The NNPGs had also wanted to know from the Government the contents in the Framework Agreement since the Chief Ministers of Nagaland, past and present, have been urging everybody to support it.

During the recently concluded Manipur elections, the issue of Framework Agreement also figured prominently against the backdrop of apprehension among the majority Meiteis on the Naga integration issue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on February 26 at a rally in Imphal, assured public of Manipur that the agreement did not contain any clause that may pose a threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Earlier on February 19, Union Minister of Home Kiren Rijiju assured that the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 would not affect the integrity and territorial boundary of Manipur in any manner.

On March 25, RN Ravi rejected the speculations about integration of Naga-inhabited areas and asserted that no such agreement has been reached with the NSCN-IM.

The Central Government is firm on its stand on the issue and the leaders of the NSCN-IM are aware of the Government's stand, he said.

Ravi said, "I have signed the Framework Agreement on behalf of the Government of India and I know every detail of it.

There is nothing about touching the territorial integrity of any State" .

He also said, "The Government of India has already made its stand clear on the issue and there is no question of changing its stand." He pointed out that during his last visit to Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also publicly announced the Centre's stand on the issue.

The interlocutor said that the claim that there would be integration of the Naga-inhabited areas was a 'blatant lie' .

It is a mischievous act by some vested interest circles to create law and order problem in the North East, he said.

The Centre's interlocutor further said the NSCN-IM has every right to demand integration of Naga-inhabited areas democratically.

"The Government cannot stop the leaders of the outfit from raising such a demand democratically.

But the Centre's stand on the issue is very clear and the Government would not deviate from its stand," Ravi added.