GUV HOUNDING NAGA GROUPS: PM TOLD PEACE TALKS

NEW DELHI: Two influential Naga civil society groups have complained to PM Modi against Nagaland Governor RN Ravi, alleging 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 NSCN-IM.

The Naga Hoho and the Naga Mothers' Association (NMA) have also alleged Ravi, 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 he does not seem to have the time or inclination to listen to the voices of women peace makers.

In a memorandum to the PM, the Naga Hoho said the Nagas have been observing the governor "is functioning in an autocratic manner without any regard and respect for what has been achieved so far". "With the appointment of RN Ravi as the governor, it was hoped to expedite the peace process. Instead, he is breaking the hard-earned trust and faith of people and rendering the 23 years of negotiation meaningless by smearing Naga history and the political groups with whom the Govt of India is engaged in a negotiation," it said.

The Naga Hoho, the apex body of different Naga tribal communities, said it felt "peaceful settlement cannot be achieved with an interlocutor without empathy and without understanding our people, our history and our aspiration". "With your (PM’s) personal and political commitment, we believe the solution is not far away," it said.