Modi likely to discuss Naga issue with Ibobi, Zeliang

Our Bureau
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 20

Reports are doing the round that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss the Naga political issue with the chief ministers of Nagaland and Manipur during his North East tour which begins by the end of this month. The reports without elucidating said the necessity to discuss the issue with the chief minister of Manipur arises. However, so far there is no official confirmation regarding the reports.
According to The Telegraph news report, a solution beyond statehood granted to Nagaland in 1963 looked distant but for others, an out-of-the-box solution to demands of autonomy to Naga-inhabited territories in other states could be explored. “Modi is likely to discuss the issue on November 30 with chief ministers of the two major stakeholder states — Nagaland and Manipur,” the national daily reported. The Prime Minister is meeting the northeastern chief ministers soon to discuss issues pertaining to internal security, the national newspaper added. Over the years, the NSCN (I-M)’s major demands of “sovereignty and integration of Naga areas” appeared to have undergone a conceptual change but without any change in the political rhetoric, the national daily further reported, adding, “ In fact, both Nagaland and Manipur have used the issue during state elections, resulting in a widening rift between communities, chiefly the Meiteis and the Nagas”.
However, confusion reigns pertaining to the timing of the visits of the Prime Minister to the region. Intelligence sources hinted that Narendra Modi is likely to land in Dimapur on November 30 and inspects the NIT at Chumukedima on the same day. There have also been reports that the North East chief ministers’ meeting will be held on November 30 in Guwahati where the Prime Minister will address. On the other hand, Manipur is in full swing preparing to welcome the Prime Minister on November 30 to grace the conclusion function of the state’s tourism festival The Sangai Festival. The intelligence sources also hinted that Narendra Modi is likely to halt a night either in Dimapur or in Kohima.
It can be noted here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed earlier this month that the NSCN-IM leaders and Central interlocutor RN Ravi should engage in concerted talks as much as they can to settle the long pending Naga political issue. Modi had also stated that the Naga political issue should not be dragged on further but it should be settled in a time bound manner.
Meanwhile, this daily had reported few days ago that the format of talks between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) “has been changed” with both sides agreeing to expedite the talks to find an amicable solution as soon as possible.
It is also worth recalling here that a 10-member team of the NSCN-IM had left Dimapur on September 20 for New Delhi on the invitation of the Government of India.
It is also worth noting here that no concerted formal talks between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India was held for a long time, as it was witnessed during the Vajpayee led NDA Government.