Dimapur, August 19 (MExN): Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio has insisted on the Government of India to now start focusing on the political aspects of the Indo-Naga political process. The chief minister is said to have implied that regular ‘meetings’ have taken place between the Centre and the Naga groups but so far, these parleys have focused primarily on issues associated with the ceasefire.
“Now the time has come to start the political process,” Rio said yesterday in Delhi. The Nagaland state cabinet led by the chief minister is in Delhi and has met with the prime minister this week primarily over internal security and issues related to the monsoon situation in the country.
The chief minister’s media officer Abu Metha today said Neiphiu Rio told the prime minister that the government of India must expedite the Indo-Naga political process by focusing on the political aspects of the issue. The chief minister expressed disappointment that while the Centre and the NSCN have met over a number of times, they have revolved only around standard auxiliary issues such as the ceasefire or the Standard Operation Procedures (SoP).
Metha said that the Naga political issue was set as a single agenda for meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The prime minister has “taken the observation very well” the CM’s press official said. The PM is said to have been ‘enthusiastic’ to Rio’s urging to now start the political process. To the national media, Rio expressed displeasure over the “stalemate” in the Centre-rebel talks in Nagaland, news agencies today said. Rio has appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to start the “political process” with the “underground groups” for a lasting solution to the insurgency problem in the state.
Rio was quoted as saying that 12 years have gone into the dialogue and ceasefire process between the underground groups of Nagaland and the Centre, but without any concrete result to bring an end to the six-decade-old insurgency problem there.
“During this period, more stress was given on the peace process and observance of ground rules. Now the time has come to start the political process,” Rio told a press conference.
He said both sides should come to the negotiating table at the earliest.
“Whatever the undergrounds want to put forward, they should place it before the negotiating table. In the same way, whatever the Central government is ready to offer, it should be conveyed to the undergrounds. Unless political talks start, how can a solution emerge?” he questioned. The chief minister said his government has been doing its best as the facilitator for the talks and is looking forward to its successful completion.
