by Bhupen Goswami 

GUWAHATI : The Central Government has come forward with a lot of thought to end this oldest separatist movement in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah continued to hold frequent talks with Indian Intelligence and the Indian Army Chief and other security agencies. It now wants to formalise this mutual trust through an agreement.

It is mentioned that on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Nagaland Chief Minister Nefiu Rio held a meeting with the leadership of NSCN-IM, the largest armed Naga group, at Dimapur in Nagaland. This was the first time the NSCN-IM had talks with political leaders since it started talks with the Centre in 1997. While the talks were informal, it is believed to be the beginning of a political channel to get peace talks with the rebel group back on track.

However, the attempt to find a solution to the talks in the 3-hour meeting has failed. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said union home minister Amit Shah has authorised him to hold initial talks with all the rebel groups in the North East like ULFA. After meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah at night, Sarma today also said that he is partly involved in the ongoing peace process with NSCN-IM but is not officially holding any talks with the Naga rebel group. Sarma further said that as the convener of THE NEDA, I have sometimes spoken to some political parties (in Nagaland). Sarma is the convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).Referring to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), he said both the Central and State Governments are the same demanding a review of nrc in Assam. However, the supreme court will decide in this regard as the NRC was prepared under direct supervision of the Supreme Court. Replying to another question, Sarma said she has no plans to reshuffle the ministry right now. Sarma took over as the Chief Minister of Assam on May 10. The Vice Chairman of NSCN-IM said he had no faith in such discussions with the representative. To find a solution, nscn-im wants to hold a direct meeting with the Government of India on the Naga political issue.

Talks with Centre mediator AK Mishra resumed on Monday after a gap of two years after a standoff between the NSCN-IM leadership, negotiator and former Nagaland Governor RN Ravi at the formal level. Mishra, a former Special Director of intelligence bureau, had met NSCN-IM leader Th Muivah in Dimapur yesterday. The meeting is the result of the Centre’s reach on the Naga political issue. The political outreach was led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI The APPOINTMENT of former Intelligence Bureau Special Director AK Mishra as the representative of the Government of India has finally given impetus to the Indo-Naga political dialogue, nscn-im said. The organisation said that “with the appointment of AK Mishra as the new interlocutor in place of the most trivial interlocutor, Shri Rn Ravi, the way forward has been set for the Indo-Naga political dialogue. According to reports, though the Indian government has not officially appointed Mishra as negotiator after the Naga talks ended on October 31, 2019, he will continue to hold talks with Naga political groups to reach a final deal. However, former Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang has said that “only one agreement and one solution can be reached” with regard to the Naga political issue.

Zeliang said this after meeting new Naga talks negotiator AK Mishra at Nagaland House in New Delhi. The former Nagaland Chief Minister further expressed hope that from now on naga talks are likely to move in the “right direction”. Zeliang said that “it is time for the Government of India to have a general approach as only one agreement and one solution can be reached. It is important to consider and work now whether we live as one or are personally disintegrated. “