Digital
Desk: According to those with knowledge of the situation, the Centre on Monday
requested that the Nagaland legislative panel headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu
Rio "persuade" the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist
Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) to resolve the last major issues impeding the Naga
peace process.
Rio was one of a group of 11 panel members who met with
Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday to seek for a resolution to the
long-standing problem. They emphasised the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP)
"Election for Solution" theme during the previous election in 2018 by
seeking a definitive resolution before the state assembly elections scheduled
for early next year.
"I had a meeting with the Parliamentary Core Committee
to discuss the Naga Political Issue with the Hon'ble @HMOIndia Shri @AmitShah.
We once more asked the GoI to speed up the drawn-out negotiations on the matter
and find a swift and honourable resolution," Rio tweeted following the
meeting.
"Before the elections, we need a solution. According to
Neiba Kronu, member secretary of the state's legislators' panel and minister
for legislative affairs, "Our demand was conveyed to the government of
India, and we are grateful to our Union home minister for providing us time to
voice our thoughts.
When questioned about the outright denial by the NSCN (IM)
of the government's assertion that the negotiations came to an end on October
31, 2019, Kronu informed HT that there was a "communication vacuum"
following the departure of the previous interlocutor RN Ravi.
Kronu claimed that all major issues had been resolved with
the exception of the constitution and the use of a separate Naga flag
(Yehzabo). "For this reason, we are urging the negotiation parties to meet
and settle those fundamental problems," he continued.
In the state assembly in February 2021, Ravi, the Centre's
then-interlocutor for Naga political talks, stated that official negotiations
had ended on October 31, 2019. The NSCN (IM) refuted it, sticking to its stance
that Yehzabo and the Naga flag are inseparable from the "unique Naga
history."
According to recent reports in a portion of the local media,
the Centre may permit the use of the Naga flag for cultural events and refer to
the final accord as the Yehzabo.
The Yehzabo might be included as a distinct chapter to the
Constitution, Kronu said, but the participants to the negotiations can always
review the issue and decide what is best for the people.
When questioned about whether the core committee will meet with the NSCN (IM) leadership to communicate what the Center has shared, Kronu responded that the committee would unquestionably do so. "Everyone is upbeat, and we all want a quick fix. Delaying the procedure is not really necessary, he said.
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