Former PM Deve Gowda concerned about stalemate in Naga peace talks

Dimapur, Aug. 17 (EMN): Former prime minister of India HD Deve Gowda has urged the negotiating parties involved in the Indian government-NSCN (IM) talks to put aside ‘distrust’ and to continue working towards resolution of the Naga political issue.

Gowda stated this in a note on August 17 in which he noted news reports that the talks between the government of India and the Naga armed group NSCN (IM) had run into ‘rough weather.’

He said that the ceasefire agreement in 1997 during his tenure as the prime minister of India was a result of constructive diplomacy. Gowda met with the Naga leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah in Zurich on February 1997, he stated.

The statement from Gowda comes just days after the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio called upon the Naga people to give a final push to achieve the Naga political settlement. Rio said that the 23 years of ceasefire and political dialogue is more than enough time to reach a logical conclusion.

‘We should ensure that the progress made in the last 23 years by successive governments is not forsaken now. There is the Constitution and also the 2015 framework agreement, which should help its move towards a solution,’ Gowda added in the note.

‘I sincerely hope that distrust is put aside, talks continue, and a peace accord is reached at the earliest. The people of the North East deserve to live in harmony and witness economic progress,’ the note stated.