Amit Shah's meeting with Nagaland CM Rio and ministers cancelled

New Delhi

It may be one of those routine episodes where a meeting with a senior central
minister has been cancelled.

Or there is more to it?  A much talked about and hyped meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his ministerial colleagues was put off on Tuesday.

"I think I will call it the last moment cancellation," said one source without elaborating further. Rio had gathered all his ministerial colleagues including Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton of BJP ostensibly to discuss matters pertaining to Eastern Nagaland with the Union Home Minister.

'Nagaland Page' Link

Mr Rio is camping in Delhi since June 30 in the national capital with the sole agenda of taking his cabinet for a meeting with Union Home Minister for a detailed discussion on the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory.

The Nagaland ministers camping in New Delhi is being considered as a 'significant' episode in the context of continuous tension in Manipur and also the NDPP lately issuing a statement against the Uniform Civil Code.

A BJP leader has stated that the Supreme Court has said on a number of occasions that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) should be implemented as soon as possible.

But NDPP and tribal bodies' stiff opposition would have little meaning now if the centre goes on to implement the UCC exempting the tribals.'

At the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel and Law on Monday, BJP MP and chairman of the panel, Sushil Modi reportedly asked the Law Commission representative and ministry officials if it was 'legally feasible' to keep tribals out of the purview of any new law on uniform civil code.

The government officials reportedly responded in the affirmative.  “Introducing a common civil code for the populace will surely have adverse result in achieving the ideals of the country," the Rio-led NDPP, a BJP ally since 2018, said in a statement. 

Notably, A K Mishra and senior home ministry officials held a closed door meeting at the Nagaland House wherein Chief Minister Rio and his other ministers also met.

Interlocutor Mishra meeting with militant leaders:

Sources said peace interlocutor for Naga peace talks, A K Mishra, is likely to meet Naga militant leaders in Delhi soon.

Without elaborating much, sources said the NSCN-IM has sought time to talk to Mishra.

There was no clarity yet on whether NNPG leaders too would be requested to attend any such meeting.

Observers say developments during last few weeks suggest the Naga peace talks have been almost derailed due to reasons more than one.

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Therie

Why tribal Prez Madam Murmu has not acted so far in Manipur, asks Therie

New Delhi 

Even as constant efforts to ensure peace and tranquility in Manipur are yet to 

yield expected results, former Nagaland pradesh Congress chief Kewekhape

Therie has said that the developments in the state are fit cases for the President of India to take over.

"But why is she silent....We still have hopes on her excellency Madam Draupadi Murmu. She is herself a woman tribal leader," Therie told this journalist here.  

"We understand Rashtrapati Bhavan is already under virtual siege, but she understands well that there was a breakdown of the constitution. Chief Minister Biren Singh has lost credibility. He is seen as someone responsible for the violence. Blaming loot of 3000 arms and 5 lakh ammunitions by rioters is utter failure," he said.

'Nagaland Page' Link: Therie story

Mr Therie maintained that in social media’s unnamed people say 'arms were perhaps given away and not looted. Losing so many weapons is a premeditated plan. Situation is totally out of control; and added, "Over 4000 houses, 300 churches were burnt down and 60,000 people are displaced. Mortuaries 

are overloaded. Killing and beheading are going on". 

"People are living in relief camps without hope and there is fear everywhere. This is an ideal situation where the President of India's intervention is only hope," he underlined.

To a question, he said, "I met some key central leaders in our party.....I can tell you every Congressman and woman is today hurt and concerned about what is going on in Manipur. I have requested our leaders to depute a team of Opposition MPs to visit the state".

"I see no light at the end of the tunnel....," he added.

Answering questions, the former Minister said, "The sad thing is everyone is guessing what will be the next Disastrous project of the BJP....Did they deliberately play tribal non-tribal games in Manipur, and what was the idea behind. Attacks on churches are unheard in the northeast".

"I may hurt some people's sentiment, but the fact is attacking churches and Masjids are part of the 'Gujarat model' and what you see in Manipur is an extension of that 'Gujarat model'....What went on in Manipur is perhaps linked

to land issues. Non tribals have 40 assembly seats but 8 per cent of state's land control....So I suspect things have been planned up," Therie said.

On BJP leaders including Biren Singh attributing Manipur unrest to Congress 'misgovernance and adhocism' and interference of foreign hands, Therie said, "The BJP leaders are simply looking for a cover. Like bad engineers they are blaming the machines.... 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah will go down the memory lane as architects of destruction of Constitutional provisions".

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