The Centre, on Thursday, said it is yet to conclude talks with Naga insurgent groups and will consult all stakeholders including the states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh before finalisation of any settlement.
In a statement, the Union Home Ministry said that it has come to the government’s notice that lot of rumours and misinformation is being spread in the media, including social media, that the final Naga settlement has been arrived at and will be announced soon.
‘This is creating anxiety and concern in some parts of the country. It is clarified that before any settlement is arrived at with Naga groups, all stakeholders including states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will be duly consulted and their concerns will be taken into consideration. No credibility needs to be given to such rumours and incorrect information,’ the statement added.
The Central Government has already rejected the NSCN-IM’s demand for unification of Naga inhabited areas – located in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The three Northeastern states have also vehemently opposed it.
The talks, to find a lasting solution to the seven-decade-old insurgency problem in Nagaland, continued for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, with the Centre’s interlocutor and Nagaland Governor R N Ravi holding discussions with the NSCN-IM for more than three hours, according to officials.
While the dialogue with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) is said to be over, talks with the NSCN-IM, a major insurgent group in the Northeast, has been centred on its demands for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas.
The outcome of Thursday’s meeting is not known immediately. The talks were convened in Delhi in a bid to iron out differences, particularly on the NSCN-IM’s demands for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas, which have already been rejected by the Centre.
