◗ Ravi ‘hounding’ groups engaged in talks: Naga bodies complain to Modi
■ Influential Naga bodies complain to PM
New Delhi, Aug. 9: Two influential Naga civil society groups have complained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Nagaland Governor R.N. Ravi, alleging that he is functioning in an “autocratic” manner and without any regard for what has been achieved in 23 years of peace talks with insurgent group NSCNIM.
The Naga Hoho and the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) have also alleged that Ravi, who is the Centre’s interlocutor for the peace dialogue, has been “hounding” the same Naga groups with whom he is supposed to negotiate and conclude the peace talks, and claimed that he does not seem to have the time or inclination to listen to the voices of women peace makers.
In a memorandum to the prime minister, the Naga Hoho said the Nagas have been observing that the governor “is functioning in an autocratic manner without any regard and respect for what has been achieved so far”.
“With the appointment of R N Ravi as the governor, it was hoped to expedite the peace process. Instead, he is breaking the hard-earned trust and faith of the people and rendering the 23 years of negotiation meaningless by smearing Naga history and also the political groups with whom the government of India is engaged in a negotiation,” it said. The Naga Hoho, which is the apex body of different Naga tribal communities, said it felt that “peaceful settlement cannot be achieved with an interlocutor without empathy and without understanding our people, our history and our aspiration.” The organisation told the Prime Minister that it continues to trust his leadership. “With your personal and political commitment, we believe that the solution is not far away” it said.
The NMA, in its memorandum, said Ravi was allegedly “threatening” and “hounding” different Naga groups.