Naga-Centre talks stuck on two demands

New Delhi, October 19

Amid reports of serious differences in the decades-old dialogue to settle the Naga-issue, the Centre’s Interlocutor RN Ravi said when it was reaching a concluding stage, the NSCN(I-M) was dragging symbolic issue of separate national flag and constitution, which the government was unwilling to agree.

There are indications that the Centre could conclude the deal by the end of this month with the seven other Naga groups sans the NSCN(I-M) all of whom signed the political parameters of settlement.

“A mutually agreed draft comprehensive settlement is ready for inking the final agreement. At this juncture, the NSCN(I-M) has adopted a procrastinating attitude to delay by raising the contentious issues of separate Naga flag and constitution,” the office of the Interlocutor said after a meeting at Kohima on Friday night. The meeting was attended among others by the apex leadership of all the 14 Naga tribes of Nagaland, all minority non-Naga tribes of Nagaland and Nagaland GB Federation. — TNS