The crucial talks between the Centre and biggest Naga insurgent outfit, NSCN(IM), on Thursday for a final peace accord were inconclusive.
Sources in the outfit told THE WEEK that there has been “no breakthrough” in the much-hyped meeting between Nagaland governor and interlocutor R.N. Ravi and NSCN (IM) general secretary T.H. Muivah, aimed at reaching a final solution to the decades-long Naga insurgency.
If the government still decides to go ahead with peace accord with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs)—an umbrella organisation consisting of seven insurgent groups led by the NSCN (KN)—which has been playing an important role in trying to unify the Nagas, it may even decide to tighten its noose on NSCN(IM) and there could be a crackdown its leaders.
Hours after Thursday’s meeting, a senior leader of the NSCN(IM) told THE WEEK that their policy is to “seek a solution through peaceful means. Two core issues must be resolved peacefully.”
The two core issues being referred here are a separate constitution and a flag demanded by the Naga groups, which is not acceptable to the BJP government .
Ravi is under pressure to arrive at a peaceful resolution with the Naga outfits by October 31. Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked Ravi to conclude the talks that have been going on for inking a final settlement since the signing of a framework agreement with the outfit in 2015, government sources said.
The government's tough stand on Kashmir has had a ripple effect on the Naga peace talks, according to an official, with the home minister making it clear that there cannot be any talks on separate constitution and any peace settlement has to be done within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
Besides failing to reach an agreeable position on this demand with the government, the Naga outfits have also been divided on the issue of the prominence given to NSCN(IM) to negotiate the deal. There are also fissures within the largest outfit with opinion being divided on issues of separate constitution, territorial integrity, preserving identity and culture among others.
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Sources told THE WEEK that the government has been ready with a draft settlement where autonomy—both financial and administrative—can be given in the form of autonomous council which would also apply to the four Naga inhabited districts of Manipur where autonomous district councils can be created over which the state government will have no control .
The Naga insurgents would have to surrender and could be rehabilitated into Indian reserve battalions, the primary condition being on laying down arms for a final deal to to inked. But with no breakthrough in Thursday’s meeting, the ball is back in Ravi’s court to get the Naga outfits on board.
The task is difficult as Ravi has been trying for several months now to bring all groups together.
However, with Ravi attempting to fulfill the desire of the home minister to conclude the talks soon, a peace deal with NNPGs is not being ruled out yet before October 31.
Security forces have already been deployed in Nagaland to prevent any law and order problem. Sources said a meeting was held days ago to review the security situation and deploy additional forces if required, to deal with any unrest.
