Election & solution are not interrelated: Ravi

Amidst demand for “Solution not Election” before the ensuing general Assembly Elections scheduled on February 27, Government of India’s representative and Interlocutor to Naga Peace Talks, R.N. Ravi, has categorically stated that election and solution are not interrelated.
Talking to Nagaland Post, Ravi said “I can understand the frustration of the Naga people over the protracted negotiation for the last 20 years during which several elections have been held and governments have come and gone while people have been awaiting political solution to the Naga issue.”
However, Ravi added that people should “acknowledge the qualitative and quantum progress made in the last three years.”
When asked why the election had been declared when civil society organisations, political parties and Naga political groups had been demanding for “solution not election”, Ravi clarified that “election and solution are not interrelated” and added that once the negotiation successfully concludes the “agreement will be duly incorporated into the Constitution of India to ensure its permanency and immediate implementation.”
He then said “the future dispensation in Nagaland will be according to the agreement and nothing can stand in the way of its implementation.”
Asked about the status of the ongoing talks, Ravi said the endeavour of the negotiating parties has been to successfully conclude the negotiation at the earliest.
“We already have covered most of the ground and I am hopeful that the remaining few issues can be sorted out soon. Both sides have adequate understanding of each other’s positions and difficulties and are sufficiently mature to bridge the remaining gaps.”
When asked how soon Nagas can expect a solution, Ravi said “I am sufficiently sensitive and respectful to Nagas’ popular sentiment for an early solution. I can assure the Naga people that I am doing my best in this regard.”
In a recent interview to Nagaland Post, Ravi said though an early solution was desired, it was not time specific. However, he said elections were time specific and also a constitutional obligation that had to be fulfilled.