Guwahati: Anticipated as a final peace settlement on the 23-year-old dialogue, the centre and the Nationalist Social Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) will hold talks on Friday. The final peace deal will be signed by Aug 15, sources said.
Sources reported that the meeting will be attended by members of NSCN-IM and representatives from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur — neighbouring states of Nagaland — in New Delhi. It is expected that the age-old dialogue will be signed finally.
In a tweet, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, said, “Yesterday I received a call from Hon HM Sri @AmitShah to discuss about issues pertaining to enduring peace in #NorthEast. Despite being in hospital his commitment to work is unwavering. This sets a benchmark for us all. India is proud to have you as Home Minister Sir. Admiration!”
Yesterday I received a call from Hon HM Sri @AmitShah to discuss about issues pertaining to enduring peace in #NorthEast. Despite being in hospital his commitment to work is unwavering. This sets a benchmark for us all. India is proud to have you as Home Minister Sir. Admiration!
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) August 5, 2020
A top NSCN-IM leader said, “Our talks team will travel to Delhi tomorrow for holding peace talks. Hoping for a positive outcome.” However, sources denied on Aug 15 as the final day of the announcement.
But, Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) — a cluster of seven Naga groups — claimed they have already ceased talks with the Centre.
New Delhi had set a deadline of Oct 31, 2019, to come with a final settlement in Naga peace talks, which started in 1997 after the Government of India and NSCN-IM signed a cease-fire agreement. On Aug 3, 2015, the NSCN-IM and Centre signed a 2015 Framework Agreement.
However, NSCN-IM in the last few months have shown disagreement after the Nagaland governor and Centre interlocutor in Naga peace talks RN Ravi wrote to chief minister Neiphiu Rio stating the law and order in the state is collapsed.
The organization has also sought a review on the ceasefire agreement asking if it applies only to Nagaland or extends beyond that. On July 11, in a joint-operation, security agencies gunned down six active cadres of NSCN (IM) near Nginu in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh
85-year-old Thuingaleng Muivah, NSCN-IM general secretary, who flew to the national capital last month following a health check-up is expected to lead the Naga-side in the talks.