NEW DELHI, Jan 10 – The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is likely to eventually take-over the Naga peace talks from the Government of India’s chief interlocutor, K Padmanabhiah even as the Central Government prepares the ground for holding talks on substantive issues. The day-one of the NSCN (IM) leaders began with a visit to Raj Ghat where they laid wreath on the Samadhi of the Father of the Nation. Accompanying them were about 100-odd other delegates mostly representatives of the various students bodies, NGOs, cultural organizations among others.
Like any visiting head of the State, the NSCN (IM) delegation headed by Isak Chisi Swu and Th. Muivah amidst a tight security cover had arrived at Raj Ghat around 9.30 am and they offered a floral wreath and prayed for a moment before taking a round around the memorial. Government of India’s chief interlocutor, K Padmanabhiah was also present on the occasion. The visit to Raj Ghat by the leaders of the North East region’s biggest militant group has evoked quite inquisitiveness here and is sure to send the right signals to the political leadership. The NSCN (IM) leaders are planning to call on a host of leaders across the political spectrum, perhaps for the first time in their life-long struggle.
An accompanying delegate explained that the two leaders had great respect for Gandhiji because of his understanding of the Naga problem and his appreciation of the issues for which the Naga outfits have been fighting. The two leaders, who are as of now maintaining a discreet distance from the media both at the airport and at the Raj Ghat, reportedly spent the entire day holding meetings with their colleagues who have come from Nagaland before winding their day with a meeting with the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee at his 7 Race Course Road House. Meanwhile, highly placed sources told this newspaper that the ground is being prepared for the MHA to take over Naga peace talks. So far the talks from the Government’s side were led by Padmanabhiah, who was assisted by a team of Intelligence Bureau officials. But sources said that stage has come from where the MHA may takeover further negotiations. However, that may not happen immediately as the current round delegation-level talks would be headed by Padmanabhiah.
The Central Government’s stand on the issue is also not clear as it is also toying with a proposal of appointing a political leader as the substantive issues are of political nature. Several names including that of Defence Minister, George Fernandes, and Minister for DONER, and Arun Shourie among others are doing the rounds here. The practice adopted by the Centre so far for talking with other insurgent outfits like the BLT, UPDS and DHD is to involve the MHA directly in the negotiations. In case of these outfits, the Centre has been doing without any interlocutors with an officer of the rank of special secretary heading the negotiations.
Meanwhile, the delegation-level talks between the NSCN (IM) and Government of India is likely to take place early next week. Though no major breakthrough is expected a joint statement at the end of the Delhi round is expected to be made. What is interesting is the statement by t he NSCN (IM) supported Naga International Support Centre (NISC), raised the issue of greater Nagaland. “Let us keep in mind that without the unification of the Naga homeland, now arbitrarily divided between the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, it is evident that it is not possible to merely think of a just solution,”
“How this is going to be worked out depends much on the wisdom of the Indian leadership. The failures in the past cannot be dismissed just like that. For both the Government of India and the Naga People have learned from their past mistakes and seek better understanding now for a permanent solution. This is the best time now that the leadership of both sides are meeting and do recognize the seriousness of the overdue matter,” NISC said. It may be recalled here that the Central Government has on several occasions ruled out the possibility of redrawing the boundaries of any of the three States assuring that the territorial integrity of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh would not be disturbed.
Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM) has praised both the Prime Minister, whose personal invitation and assurance for safe passage made the talks possible. The NSCN (I-M) leaders trustingly accepted it, though not all conditions were met by the Government of India. The dreaded Armed Forces Special Powers Act and other Acts are still not lifted. Nagaland is yet to be relieved of military operations.