New Delhi, January 18: Emotions overtook politics when the NSCN(I-M) delegation, including its two senior leaders T. Muivah and Isaak Swu, met 27 MPs cutting across party lines at a lunch hosted by India International Centre here today.
Muivah is believed to have told the MPs after the interaction: ‘‘We did not know that you are prepared to hear us. We have not been heard for 55 years. But we have been heard today.’’
The lunch meeting was hosted by MP Swaraj Kaushal, who was the interlocutor between the Government and the NSCN(I-M), in 1998-99. It was during his period that the two-month ceasefire was extended to one year.
Swaraj had been the first to use the good offices of Mizo leader Zoramthanga to break the ice with Naga leaders. Swaraj is learnt to have told the Naga leaders: ‘‘Even if there is no immediate breakthrough, do not blame each other. It only means you have not talked enough and need to talk more.’’
The Naga issue, he said, was not just a problem concerning only the Government and the Nagas, it was the problem of the whole nation and the turnout at the lunch ‘‘shows the country is keen to listen to you.’’
The MPs who were present included L.M. Singhvi, B.P. Singhal, S.P. Gautam, Anita Arya, C.P. Thakur and Muni Lal from the BJP; Santosh Bagrodia, Mabel Rebello, Rama Pilot and Ashwini Kumar from the Congress; Prem Gupta and Kanti Singh from the RJD; Shahid Siddiqui from the SP: Pritish Nandy from the Shiv Sena; Ram Vilas Paswan from the Jan Lok Shakti; Sukhbir Singh Badal from the Akali Dal; and independent MPs Kuldip Nayar and Ram Jethmalani.
The Naga leaders assured the MPs that they won’t fight any more. ‘‘We want peace now,’’ they said.
While Nandy congratulated the Naga leaders for their bold step, L.M. Singhvi said the MPs present at the lunch represented a ‘‘mini Parliament’’.
Swaraj introduced Muivah as ‘‘my brother’’ and Swu as ‘‘my friend’’. He said Muivah was his brother because he used to fight with him all the time during the talks and Swu was a ‘‘friend’’ because they never fought.
Swaraj also thanked the Naga leaders for agreeing to what was probably ‘‘their first vegetarian meal’’, comprising both Indian and Chinese delicacies.