The deadlocked Naga peace talks between the Union government in New Delhi and National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isaac-Muivah faction), which has been lately resumed after two years, seems to get a catalyst in Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convenor of BJP floated North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
The senior saffron leader arrived in Dimapur on Tuesday and met NSCN-IM representatives along with his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio. Sarma is also understood to meet leaders of Naga national political groups. The initiative is understood as a supplementary to the resumed fresh round of talks between NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and the former top Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer AK Mishra.
Mishra along with IB director Arvind Kumar arrived in Nagaland on Sunday. R N Ravi, who was also the governor of Nagaland, was replaced by Mishra as the interlocutor of Naga peace talks. Ravi was transferred as Tamil Nadu Governor, whereas Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi has been given additional charge of Nagaland. NSCN-IM has already clarified that the peace talks, suspended for the Covid-19 pandemic, has been resumed to find an amicable solution to Naga issues.
It asserted that everything would be initiated on the basis of Framework Agreement, signed in New Delhi (2015) in presence
of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NSCN-IM chief negotiator Muivah. NSCN-IM is seemingly determined for a separate Naga flag and constitution.
Meanwhile, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah questioned CM Sarma’s role and ability to pursue for the peace talks with NSCN-IM leaders. He pointed out that NSCN-IM leaders were demanding a larger Nagaland comprising some Naga-inhabited localities of Assam too. Borah made it clear that the Congress would not allow any part of Assam land into Greater Nagalim.
