NEW DELHI, Dec 5 ? Asserting that a solution to the Naga issue has to be based on the ?uniqueness? of Nagas, top leaders of insurgent group NSCN (IM) arrived here tonight to hold talks with the Centre keeping on track the peace process in the northeastern State, reports PTI.
The outfit?s chairman Isak Swu and general secretary T Muivah were greeted by hundreds of Naga people, dressed in typical attire, singing ?we shall overcome one day?, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on their arrival from Amsterdam. Addressing a meeting of Naga students soon after their arrival, Muivah said ?we will negotiate whenever and wherever they want us to as the solution to the problem can emerge only through talks.?
Our Staff Correspondent adds: The NSCN (I-M) leaders are scheduled to hold meetings with representatives of the Government of India, besides meeting the Prime Minister and senior Central leaders of the UPA Government as well as Opposition parties. After their week-long stay in Delhi, they are slated to fly over to Dimapur for Christmas and stay put in Nagaland for over two months, before again returning here in February for the next round of talks on substantive issues.
A local member of Naga Students Federation (NSF) said that hundreds of students, human rights activists, representatives of NGOs, church would be joining local Naga community in welcoming the NSCN (I-M) leaders on their second visit to Delhi in three years. ?We are planning to stage a special dance to welcome the leaders,? he said.
Senior NSCN (I-M) leaders including VS Atem, RH Rising, Grinder Muivah, among others, have also flown in from Nagaland to receive their leaders. Significantly, the NSCN (I-M) have not relied on security provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as a posse of body guards, all crack commandos, were brought in to guard the top leaders, sources said. With expectations running high, the NSCN (I-M) leaders are slated to begin their tour with a meeting with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil tomorrow. Formal talks are scheduled to begin later in the week.
Meanwhile, chief interlocutor, K Padmanabhaiah, who would be leading the Government side, said that the aim would be to work out a broad framework for resolution of the Naga problem. Asserting that the Government of India was committed for a logical conclusion of the Naga issue, Padmanabhaiah conceded that there were significant differences on many issues. But every effort would be made to bridge the gaps, he told newsmen.
The main areas of differences were on the issue of unification of all Naga-inhabited areas spanning across the States of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, besides Nagaland. The demand is again likely to be raised by the NSCN (I-M) during negotiations though UP Government has made known its position against disturbing the territorial integrity of the States.
Meanwhile, Padmanabhaiah said that everybody has agreed that Naga issue was a political problem that needed a negotiated political settlement. He said during the last five years, all issues were discussed and some progress has been made. The NSCN (I-M) leaders are under increasing pressure to make public the progress made in talks with the Government of India so far.