Ravi resigns as India’s Interlocutor for Naga peace talks

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 22 (EMN): Governor of Tamil Nadu RN Ravi on Wednesday resigned as the Government of India’s Interlocutor for the Naga peace talks after holding the post for about seven years.

“Shri RN Ravi’s resignation as interlocutor for the peace process, submitted by him today (September 22) has been accepted with immediate effect by the Government of India,” Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs, tweeted on Wednesday.

Ravi was appointed as Centre’s Interlocutor to the Naga peace talk in 2014 before being made the 19th Governor of Nagaland in July 2019, in addition to his responsibility as Interlocutor.

On September 9 this year, he was relieved from the charge of Nagaland Governor and appointed as Governor of Tamil Nadu. After the state farewell was accorded to him on September 14 in Kohima, Ravi left for Tamil Nadu and was sworn in as the 25th Governor of the south India state.

During his charge as Interlocutor, Ravi held several rounds of talks with various Naga political groups. He also signed the Framework Agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) in August 2015. The GoI also signed aAgreed Position with the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) in November 2017.

Ravi’s relationship with the NSCN (IM) soured in 2020 after the latter accused him of sabotaging the Framework Agreement over the issue of a separate Naga flag and constitution. After over a year of impasse, the negotiations between GoI and the NSCN (IM) resumed on September 20, 2021 in Dimapur with former special director of Intelligence Bureau, Akshaya Kumar Mishra representing the Centre.

It was a closed door meeting and both the parties had not shared the outcome.

Further, as “deputed” by the Union Home Minister, convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (Neda) and Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, held a separate meeting with the NSCN (IM) and Nagaland legislators in Dimapur on Tuesday.

While Ravi outrightly rejected NSCN (IM)’s demand for a separate flag and constitution, the group on Monday reiterated that it would not accept any agreement without it.