The Centre on Friday said it was determined to conclude the ongoing Naga peace process without delay and asserted that endless negotiation under the shadow of guns was not acceptable.
In a statement, the government’s interlocutor for Naga talks and Governor of Nagaland RN Ravi said a mutually agreed draft comprehensive settlement, incorporating all substantive issues and competencies, is ready for inking the final agreement.
“Unfortunately at this auspicious juncture, the NSCN-IM has adopted a procrastinating attitude to delay the settlement raising the contentious symbolic issues of separate Naga national flag and constitution on which they are fully aware of the Government of India’s position,” the statement said.
Ravi said in the statement that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN)-IM has “mischievously” dragged the framework agreement into the negotiation and began imputing imaginary contents to it.
In view of such unfortunate attitude of some NSCN-IM leaders, the government of India’s representative and Interlocutor for Naga peace talks held a detailed consultation meeting with the primary stakeholders of the Naga society on October 18 in Kohima.
The meeting was attended by the apex leadership of all the 14 Naga tribes of Nagaland, all the minority non-Naga tribes of Nagaland, the Nagaland Gaon Burha Federation, the Nagaland Tribes Council, church leaders and civil society organisations.
October 31 Deadline
The Government of India has set a deadline of October 31 to conclude the process of talks with the Naga rebel groups reported Assam Tribune.
Highly placed sources in the Government of India told The Assam Tribune that the government has already made its stand “very clear” to all the Naga rebel groups and they would have to take a decision whether to sign a peace agreement or not by October 31. “Formalities for signing an agreement may take some time, but it is clear that there will be no more talk after October 31. Moreover, the government will not sign separate agreements with different groups and there will be only one agreement,” sources added.