NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The NSCN (I-M) may not be taking part in the ensuing Nagaland Assembly polls but the battle-line between the Naga underground leadership and Chief Minister of the state, SC Jamir were drawn, with the I-M leadership accusing the Congress leaders of sabotaging the peace process in the past. The animosity between the I-M leaders and Sri Jamir came out in the open when during an interaction with the newsmen the two leaders said that they had six meetings with then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi six times before Jamir sabotaged it. She later sent her emissaries for the seventh time. Smt Gandhi was a very wise politician. But unfortunately she was assassinated. Then late Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister and he made efforts to reach an accord with us. Rajesh Pilot played a leading role. But unfortunately Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated and Rajesh Pilot passed away sometime back, the two leaders were quoted as having said.
The two leaders had earlier maintained that the talks in 1967 could not succeed because both the leadership were not mature then. The sudden warmness for the Congress stalwarts is being seen as an attempt not to displease the Congress leadership. Both Swu and Muivah are waiting for an appointment with Sonia Gandhi and if a solution is to be found then the stand of the Congress party is vital. The two leaders have also repeatedly clarified that they would not interfere with the Assembly polls nor would they participate in it. However, they added that though they have asked the rank and file not to disturb the elections, but it depended upon whether any pressure is exerted on them, Muivah said.
The NSCN(I-M) leaders may have been merely reiterating the apprehension in certain quarters about the role of Khaplang faction in the polls. About their meeting with late Rajesh Pilot’s wife, they have come to meet Rama Pilot to express our solidarity with her. Late Pilot was a fine man. A man of immense dedication who always had the good of the Naga people at his heart, the two leaders said. The NSCN(I-M) leaders also praised the then Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao saying that he had a long meeting with them in Paris. “He told us we cold get in touch with him directly. He too sent emissaries to find a solution to the Naga problem,” they said.
Meanwhile, delegation level talks between the Government and the NSCN(I-M) is likely to start by the middle of the month. Apart from the chairman and general secretary a few more members of the outfit are expected to join them shortly to take part in the negotiations. Meanwhile, the various Naga organisations including the Naga Students Federation, Naga Ho-Ho, representatives of various NGOs, human rights groups had a meeting with the NSCN (I-M) leaders on January 12.
Meanwhile, the NSCN (I-M) leaders have been busy lobbying, the political activities concerning Nagaland polls have gathered momentum. The BJP national president, Venkahiah Naidu today said efforts were being made to float a non-Congress, non-Left front in the North-East States and that it would be finalised in a couple of days. “We are negotiating with the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and other regional parties to form a united front to defeat the Congress and the Left parties,” he said.
The Defence Minister yesterday had a meeting with the representatives of the NPF to give a final shape to their alliance and the seat sharing arrangements. The BJP president while conceding that his party does not have much of a stake in Nagaland and two other States going to polls said he would like the BJP to open its accounts in the three States. The State unit president of the three North Eastern States have been summoned to Delhi for a meeting on January 20, when they would chalk out a poll strategy.