Naga group declares separate flag talks, constitution underway with center. (FILE)
Days after leaking a confidential letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seven months ago, NSCN (IM), the largest Naga armed group involved in peace talks for 22 years, claimed on Wednesday that informal talks with New Delhi were going on and that is still not the case. conclusive. He also indicated that there was still an impasse over the contentious issues of a separate flag and constitution.
“The NSCN has made its position clear that there is no way to move forward in the talks between Indo-Naga without finalizing the flag and the Naga constitution. Significantly, the flag talks and the Naga constitution are being pursued with the utmost seriousness. ” NSCN (IM) said in a press release.
The statement came after reports of the rejection of the request for a separate flag and constitution and that the Center is ready with its draft final peace agreement.
“What does the Naga people have to gain from the Naga agreement if we are to lose our political identity identified by the flag and the constitution? This is the question that now plays in the consciousness of the Naga people as a whole. “, says the NSCN (IM).
Peace talks with the NSCN (IM) have remained in limbo since the start of this year, while the NNPG, the joint platform of other small Naga armed groups, has agreed to move forward with a final agreement with the Center.
NSCN-IM has requested the replacement of RN Ravi, who is the interlocutor of the peace talks in addition to the governor of Nagaland.
The Center had ruled out a separate flag and constitution earlier. Over the past two months, there has been a series of informal discussions between IB officials and NSCN-IM leaders.
