NSCN (IM) wants to stop talks with GoI — TR Zeliang

Our Reporter

Dimapur, May 28 (EMN): The Co-convenor of Parliamentary core committee on Naga political issue, TR Zeliang, on Saturday said that the panel interacted with the leaders of NSCN (IM) as the group wanted to stop peace talks with the government of India after returning from the recent negotiations in Delhi.

He said this during an interaction with the media after the four-hour long meeting between the Core Committee of the Parliamentary Committee on Naga Political Issue and NSCN (IM) leaders at Rhododendron Hall, Police Complex in Chümoukedima.

Zeliang, who is also the chairman of United Democratic Alliance (UDA), said that after holding talks with the government of India’s interlocutor for Naga peace talks, AK Mishra, in Nagaland, the NSCN (IM) delegation went to Delhi for further talks. However, they said after returning from the national capital last week that “they will not have any further negotiations”.

‘So, we interacted with them and we had requested them that the talks should continue and only through talks a settlement can take place,’ he said adding, “we are going to request the government of India to invite them (NSCN-IM) for further negotiation.”

When asked if they are willing to continue with the talks, Zeliang said the committee will convey whatever they had discussed during the Saturday’s meeting and the need to arriving at a mutual understanding and tell the government of India to invite them for further negotiations.

“We will wait for that,” he added.

When asked about the outcome of the meeting, the member secretary of the core committee, Neiba Kronu, said that they had a very good, lengthy and fruitful discussion. ‘We are hopeful that through very good understanding we may bring a solution as early as possible,’ he added.

He went on to say that “they are becoming closure and closure” and that they are sending a positive message to the Indian government too. He added that the Centre understands “our position better”.

Kronu also revealed that they would meet the central leaders after sometime and that they might need the support of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Convenor and CM of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, as it is better if someone speaks for the government of India or the Naga people.

He said that Saturday’s meeting went on for more than four hours, terming it as one of the best discussions but a general one, where competencies were also discussed.

He went on to say that separate Naga flag and constitution issue will also be discussed but refused to comment when asked if a solution could be arrived at before the state assembly election next year.

However, the representative of NSCN (IM), RH Raising, refrained from making any comment after the meeting.

It may be mentioned that the NSCN (IM) delegation and Mishra had a two-day (May 12-13) talks in Delhi after a hectic parleys in Nagaland last month but the negotiations concluded with a breakthrough on the long-standing impasse.

Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM) has convened an emergency national assembly at GHq Church, Naga Army, on Monday, May 31, close on the heels of hectic parleys between the government of India and Naga political groups as well as state legislators in an attempt to find a solution to the protracted Naga issue.

The group has asked its members from the rank of Tatar and above joint secretary and above, major and above, and delegates from various regions and organisations to attend the meeting.