NSCN (I-M) invited to Delhi to hold talks: Rio

September 28, 2021 53 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, SEP 28 (NPN) : After resuming talks in Nagaland between former special director of Intelligence Bureau AK Mishra and NSCN (I-M) leadership, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the Centre has invited NSCN (I-M) to Delhi to continue the talks.

Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of an event organised by TaFMA here on Monday, Rio said there would be only one interlocutor for all the negotiating groups.

Rio said that Union home minister Amit Shah had also asked him and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to assist and make the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) come to an understanding for an early political solution so that peace and development could be accelerated.

Though there had been some differences between the Centre and NSCN (I-M) over some issues, Rio expressed happiness over resumption of talks after a gap of nearly two years. When asked whether Niki Sumi-led NSCN (K) would be holding talks with Government of India, Rio replied that though the group and AK Mishra could not meet this time, he said they were in touch.

On September 21, state chief minister Neiphiu Rio his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma held closed-door meeting with the NSCN (I-M) leadership headed by ato kilonser and chief negotiator Th. Muivah at Police complex, Chümoukedima.

It may be recalled that the Sarma, who is also the convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), was assigned by Union Home minister Amit Shah in 2020 with the task of studying the political situation in Nagaland and also hold discussions with the legislators and civil society groups.

Tasked to get everyone on board before a final agreement was inked over the protracted Naga issue, Sarma, in 2020, had said that the Centre had taken all the North Eastern states into confidence on the Naga peace issue and it was unlikely that there would be any contention among them.

Not in a hurry for cabinet reshuffle: Meanwhile, on the likelihood of a cabinet reshuffle following the formation of United Democratic Alliance (UDA), chief minister Neiphiu Rio clarified that the alliance constituents were not in a hurry though discussions were on.

Since all have come together for Naga political issue, he said their objective was to get things in order after which they would focus on UDA.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/nscn-i-m-invited-to-delhi-to-hold-talks-rio/241231.html