Naga talks: MHA rules out talk of new constitution

The ongoing Naga political talk between the government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) is in the advance stage with another anti-talk Khaplang faction indicating their willingness to re-join the peace process.

The question of a separate constitution for Nagaland was no longer the issue of discussion. The security sources in the home ministry told this newspaper that these issues had come up at very initial stage of talks but ruled out. Pointing out that differences over a majority of the contentious issues have already been shorted out, security sources said that the government of India has already made it clear that changing the boundary of a state is not in their purview. “If states agree to reconstitute their boundary, the Central government will not raise any objection but it is a state subject,” security sources said adding that all the stakeholders have agreed to it.

Pointing out that NSCN (I-M) was free to do the consultation with respective state governments on their demand of greater Nagaland comprising the Naga dominated areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, security sources said that these issues are no longer the agenda of ongoing talks.

Asserting that ongoing discussion was focusing on the framework agreement, security sources indicated that NSCN-K has also expressed their willingness to join the peace process. The home ministry is yet to take a decision on this issue. Security sources said they are assessing the situation. Asserting that the government of India is firm on ignoring the groups indulging in violence, security sources said issue of rehabilitating the armed cadres of NSCN (I-M) also came up for the discussion. Referring to media reports on separate constitution for Nagaland, security sources said that even NSCN (I-M) has denied to have released any such statement in the media.