Centre ready to sign Naga peace agreement, even without NSCN-IM?

New Delhi: A high-level delegation from the Working Committee (WC) of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) on Monday met the interlocutor for Naga peace talks and Nagaland governor RN Ravi in New Delhi to deliberate on the negotiations in run-up to sign the historic Naga peace agreement.

Sources from the NNPG informed EastMojo that the meeting was “cordial” and “progressive”. The government of India (GoI) “is prepared to go ahead and sign the agreement anytime”, even without the NSCN-IM, the sources added.

“GoI also knows that the NSCN-IM is stretching the negotiation — like they don’t want a solution. So it has made up its mind that, with or without the NSCN-IM, an agreement can be signed with the Working Committee (WC) of NNPG. The Naga people only want peace and harmony and want to have a settlement to the prolonged Indo-Naga political issue,” sources said.

The sources said that the meeting also dwelt on the subject of the “Nagaland Federal Hoho” which refers to “the upper house” in the state legislature. “The GOI wanted more clarity on how it is to be constituted and carried”, the sources said.

The sources then added saying that a “bicameral legislature” will only be made for the state of Nagaland. The other Naga-inhabited areas are likely to have an “autonomous regional council” or a body on similar lines. Issues related to passport, “which will reflect the Naga Identity”, were also deliberated in the meeting.

“With regard to the agreed position of the Working Committee NNPG, the government of India also accepted the fact that the preamble or the agreed position, which was signed on November 17, 2017, is independent of NSCN-IM’s framework agreement (FA)”, the sources said. Explaining further, the sources said that the preamble is not a part of the FA, nor is the FA within the Preamble.

“We are simply finalising the document that we have been working on. We are trying to have clear understanding on the issues,” the sources said. Adding further, the sources said that if all negotiations are done, the GOI is prepared to go ahead and sign the agreement anytime. “But for the interest of the Nagas and India, all stakeholders are to be consulted. GoI is aware that NSCN-IM is prolonging the talks,” the source added.

Furthermore, the sources said that the WC NNPGs have negotiated for all Naga-inhabited areas, including Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. While the meeting concluded without any “disagreement”, both parties will likely meet in March after the WC NNPGs consult with the tribal bodies and civil societies of the state.