Naga Talk to continue

The Naga Peace talks will continue beyond October 31 as the deadlock over separate flag and constitutions continued even as fissures could be seen amongst two main Naga groups in the negotiating table.

Inthe negotiating table, the umbrella body of Naga insurgent groups Naga NationalPolitical Group (NNPG) has shown flexibility over the flag and constitution butthe NSCN (IM) has remained steadfast.

There will be one more round of discussion today with the NNPG and NSCN (IM) has warned the Government not to push for any agreement sidelining them. Today is also the final day of an imaginary last day of a three-month deadline to seek a solution to the Naga issue

Theofficial source privy to the Naga peace process informed that Government ofIndia did not want to repeat what had happened with Shillong Accord in 1975. Inthat Accord majority of Naga leaders of the NNC agreed to the Accord but twoNaga leaders walked out of it opposing the agreement. That two was Th Muviahand Isaac Swu and rest was history as after 44 years the same type of agreementwas sought to be achieved.

TheNNPG has been more flexible in its demands, foregoing the separate flag andconstitution and instead, is pushing for increased seats in the NagalandAssembly and both houses of Parliament and economic packages and accommodationfor its cadres.

However,officials in the government and the NSCN-IM have pointed out "there can be nopeace accord without the IM."

"Wedon't believe that the matter can be resolved by October 31, as PM Modi hasdesired… But this stalemate can definitely be resolved by the end of thisyear," a senior official of the NSCN-IM said. But there have been no words fromthe Government side.