From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI :The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Issac Muivah (NSCN-IM) once again failed a crucial meeting with the Center on the demand for separate flag and constitution. Where NSCN-IM stands on its stand regarding separate Naga flag and constitution . At the same time, the Center is also adamant that it is not possible to give a separate flag and constitution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the negotiator for Naga peace agreement and Nagaland Governor RN Ravi till 31 October. However, Naga Hoho, the apex organization of all Naga tribal groups, claimed today that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Issaq Muivah (NSCN-IM) demanded a separate flag and constitution based on the signing of a draft agreement. But the Ministry of Home Affairs and Prime Minister’s Office make it clear that separate flag and constitution are not possible for Nagaland. Naga Hoho claimed that the agreement was signed in 2015 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the negotiator of the Center.
Naga Hoho chief HK Jhimomi also said that unless there is a charisma, the current round of talks between NSCN-IM’s top leadership and the Center’s interlocutor and Nagaland Governor RN Ravi are unlikely to yield any results. Nagaland’s most armed insurgent group NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Issac-Muivah) said that without separate flags and constitution, a peaceful settlement with India’s central government would not lead to a respectable solution.
This stern stance of NSCN-IM comes at a time when peace talks are facing deadlock due to differences between Nagaland Governor and negotiator RN Ravi. NSCN-IM said in a statement that the assembly unanimously passed the resolution, which reiterated the statement of NSCN-IM.The rebellion group wants the Naga national flag and constitution to be part of Indo-Naga political solutions and qualify the deal as honorable and acceptable. This statement also said that the central government and the NSCN-IM must reach a final agreement based on the signing of the historic Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015. But adopted a resolution to protect the Naga flag and the Naga constitution.A statement said that three regions — the Asalu Zeliangrong Region, the Makuilongadi Zeliangrong Region and the Xilad Xeliangong Region — have resolved to defend the Naga flag and the constitution. Stephen Dangmei, the convenor of the coordination committee of the three Xeliangrong regions, said in the statement that the territories that “touch all three Indian territories” states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland to “uphold the Naga national principle and the Naga flag and Naga constitution” Have pledged to protect.
However, government sources say another Naga armed group, the Naga National Political Group, has said that they are ready to sign the peace deal without demanding separate flags and constitution. It is very important to mention that the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM), which is holding peace talks with the government, said that it had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February and said that if “his presence in India is not welcome” So it should be negotiated abroad.
In an eight-page “confidential” letter, the group has also demanded a separate flag and constitution, strongly criticizing the negotiators, Nagaland Governor RN Ravi and the Home Ministry. The organization says that the letter has not received any reply from the Prime Minister’s Office. The organization’s national general secretary T Muivah wrote a letter to the Prime Minister. We had not yet made the letter public as we expected Prime Minister Modi to respond positively.Today, the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) issued a letter on behalf of the Indian Prime Minister’s office being unresponsive to the Naga people for not receiving replies and delays. Muivah wrote in the letter “Today , We would like to bring to your attention the activities of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and its agencies including NIA and Assam Rifles, which is also a matter of grave concern.As you know, the negotiations that have been going on for 22 years started at the top level.
Prime Ministerial talks started without any previous head and outside India in another country. We came to India at the call of the Government of India. We are completely shocked and surprised that even after more than two decades of political dialogue, the stance of the Ministry of Home Affairs and its agencies is malleable.