In absence of roadmap, no much headway in Naga peace talks

New Delhi 

The Naga peace talks are not making much headway as old issues are continuing to create hurdles at the parleys, sources say.

However, the Ministry of Home Affairs is quite confident that the developments related to Art 371(A) and the 6th Schedule of the Constitution are on track and the assurance given about 'autonomy' for Eastern Nagaland may be fulfilled sooner than later.

"No dateline and no deadline, but there is progress with regard to the demand from the Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) for Eastern Nagaland...," a source said adding, however, the same enthusiasm is not prevalent in the context of Naga peace talks.

Key leaders of NNPG barring its convener N Kitovi Zhimomi were in Delhi last week and met interlocutor A K Mishra and other representatives. Senior NSCN-IM leaders are also in Delhi and held both formal and informal rounds of talks. 

Details of deliberations with both NNPG and NSCN (IM) leaders have been kept withheld but analysts presume there is "no clear roadmap" with regard to the Naga peace talks.

The source maintained the BJP's 'Minimum Government and Maximum Governance' is guiding the discussions on both fronts - the Eastern Nagaland and the Naga peace talks.

Asked if the 'saboteurs' are still able to continue their 'winning spree' vis-a-vis Naga peace talks that for all practical purpose stand stalled since october 2019, the source said, "Even if the saboteurs are having some upper hand as of now, they will never get the chance for last laugh. The last laugh is with the cause of peace and with all those who are striving hard for Solution".

'Nagaland Page'

However, there are certain inherent obstacles to the peace process and as of now both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NSA Ajit Doval are not evincing much interest on Naga and northeast affairs.

"There is still absolute freehand with the Home Minister Amit Shah on these matters," a source said.

Meanwhile, the reports that some European Union members are keen to discuss Manipur matters in their own form have irked the central government to an extent.

However, at a media conference, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, "The Manipur situation is a matter totally internal to India. We are aware of what is happening in the European Union Parliament. And we have made a reach out to the concerned EU parliamentarians, but we have made it very clear, this is a matter totally and absolutely internal to India".

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