Talks between the Government of India and the NSCN (I-M), which continued on October 29 in New Delhi failed to make any headway as the meeting was yet again inconclusive.
Sources informed Nagaland Post that Tuesday crucial meeting ended “inconclusive” as both sides could not come to terms on NSCN (I-M)’s demand for separate Naga national flag and constitution.
Even as government of India’s Interlocutor to the Naga Peace Talks R.N. Ravi had emphatically reiterated that the October 31 deadline will be met under any circumstances as promised earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two negotiating parties have once again agreed to meet on Wednesday (October 30).
When contacted, NSCN (I-M) sources informed that the two entities were serious on resolving the talk. However, the source maintained that NSCN (I-M) was determined on its stand on separate national flag and constitution for the Nagas.
Meanwhile, sources informed that the meeting between RN Ravi and NNPGs on Tuesday ended on a positive note. The meeting with the NNPGs and Ravi was more or less to discuss about the outcome of the final solution since most of issues between the two have been resolved. They discussed about working out the modalities for the final agreement, sources said, adding the meeting was cordial. Sources also informed that Zeliangrong United Front was also part of the NNPGs delegation on Tuesday.
It may be mentioned that Ravi, when contacted by Nagaland Post on October 28, categorically stated that “the time-frame of October 31st stands.”
When asked if he would still be meeting with NSCN (I-M) even as the October 31 deadline was drawing to a close, he said: “We would like to make the best use of the three days left.”
Meanwhile, there were reports doing the rounds that around 20 NSCN (I-M) cadres had reportedly joined the GPRN/NSCN. However, none of the groups could be contacted to confirm about such move.
It may be recalled that on Oct 25, former NSCN (I-M) kilo kilonser Hukavi Yeputhomi joined the GPRN/NSCN along with 16 other colleagues.
In a declaration, Hukavi said that he along with his co-workers decided to join the WC, NNPG on their own volition and with deep conviction at the “decisive hour for the Naga people” when an agreement was to have been inked with the government of India “without compromising on our history and identity’.