Naga talks set to clinch final solution: PM’s envoy

The peace talks between the government and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim — NSCN(I-M) — has now entered into a crucial phase in which the talks on administrative and integration related issues has started.

Disclosing that a consensus has been created on most of political issues between the government and Naga leaders, Prime Minister’s envoy for Naga talks R.N. Ravi, who was here on Monday, told this newspaper, “The talks have been progressing in the right direction with determination. We are closer than ever before to the final settlement and hope to conclude it sooner than later.”

Informing that consultation with the unification group of NSCN has also started, Mr Ravi said, “There will be one talk and one agreement so it is necessary to take all the stakeholders on board.”

Clarifying that the government is keen to see all the factions of Naga leadership to be the part of this peace agreement, he, however, admitted that there was no question of geographical integration of Naga areas, but a mechanism is being worked out to create a consensus on such contentious issues also to make it satisfactory for all the stakeholders.

Asserting that ongoing peace-process was heading for an inclusive solution to this seven-decades old conflict, Mr Ravi said that the peace dialogues have become more purposeful, less ritualistic, more forthright and far more frequent.

“In the last two and half years we met more times than all the years before. It helped building unprecedented mutual understanding and trust,” said Mr Ravi pointing out that government of India was not opposed to the idea of taking the Khaplang faction of NSCN on board but ball is in their court as they unilaterally chose to abrogate the ongoing peace-agreement.

It is significant that government of India achieved the first major breakthrough when the Framework Agreement with NSCN (I-M) was signed on August 3, 2015.