ITANAGAR, Nov 1 - Arunachal Pradesh today welcomed the Centre�s decision to consult all stakeholders, including the three States sharing borders with Nagaland, before finalising any settlement in the Naga peace process.
Several organisations led by the apex students� body of the State, All Arunachal Pradesh Students� Union (AAPSU), reiterated that the outcome of the Naga peace process should not disturb the State�s territorial jurisdiction.
The Centre on Thursday said it is yet to conclude the talks with Naga insurgent groups and will consult all stakeholders, including the States of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, before finalising any settlement.
Welcoming the Central Government�s decision to consult all stakeholders on the issue, Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Bamang Felix termed it as a �comprehensive policy�.
�The State Government will place its opinion before the Centre keeping in view the interest of the State and its people when called for consultation,� Felix said.
AAPSU general secretary Tabom Dai also welcomed the Central Government�s decision, but said administrative interferences within the territory of Arunachal Pradesh would not be tolerated at any cost.
Arunachal Civil Society chairperson Patey Tayum said if the Centre accepts the NSCN-IM�s demand for unification of all Naga-inhabited areas, the people in three eastern districts of the State would suffer a lot.
�The people of Tirap, Changlang and Longding are suffering because of decades-old insurgency problem and the pace of development has been slow in those districts,� Tayum said.
The NSCN-IM had demanded �Nagalim� or Greater Nagaland in which all Naga-inhabited areas in the North East would be under one administrative umbrella.
However, the Central Government has rejected the NSCN-IM�s demand for unification of Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The three States have also vehemently opposed it.
The peace talks to find a lasting solution to the seven-decade-old insurgency problem in Nagaland continued for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, with the Centre�s interlocutor and Nagaland Governor RN Ravi holding discussions with the NSCN-IM.
While the dialogue with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) is said to be over, talks with the NSCN-IM has been centred on its demands for a separate flag and constitution.
A framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015 by NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah and Ravi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It came after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years, with the first breakthrough in 1997 when a ceasefire agreement was sealed. � PTI
