NEW DELHI, June 12 – Seeking continuation of the Naga peace process, a high-level delegation of tribal leaders has demanded putting on hold for Nagaland the Central legislation on downsizing of state ministries and the process of constituency delimitation, reports PTI. Downsizing the Nagaland ministry, which represents all Naga tribes, would mean curtailing of their representation. Downsizing should not be made applicable to Nagaland,” M Vero, president of the Naga Hoho, the apex tribal umbrella body, told reporters on Friday after a 40-minute meeting with Home Minister Shivraj Patil here. He said he also urged the Centre to keep on hold the process of delimitation of constituencies in Nagaland, keeping in mind the demand for “integration” of Naga inhabited areas in the North-east.
On the peace process, he said it was going ahead and if the Centre takes steps to keep downsizing and the delimitation process on hold, it would help the peace process. Sticking to their demand for a ‘greater Nagaland’, the leader of Naga Hoho, which has played a crucial role in the Naga peace process and acted as its facilitator, said the Home Minister gave them a “patient hearing” and agreed to study the demands. He said the peace talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) were going on “smoothly” and “we would like it to continue for a permanent solution to the six-decade long vexed issue.”
Asked whether the UPA government’s Common Minimum Programme violated the ground rules of the peace process, Vero said it was not a violation of the ground rules but the peace talks itself. The NSCN(I-M) and Centre’s interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah have held another round of peace negotiations in the recent weeks. The Naga insurgent outfit has been demanding that the Centre appoint a “political” personality, either from the North-east or outside, for taking the parleys at higher political level. The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government led by Neiphiu Rio has also been supportive of the peace talks, in which Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has also played an important role.