GUWAHATI, March 22 � The talks between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) are deadlocked over the two �core demands� of the militant outfit. Meanwhile, the Government of India has taken up the allegations of violation of the ground rules of ceasefire agreement by members of the outfit with the leaders of the NSCN in the meetings of the ceasefire monitoring group.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the NSCN leadership submitted a 30-point charter of demands to the Government of India and the �core demands� of the outfit are not acceptable to the Government. Sources said that the demand for integration of the �Naga inhabited areas� for creation of greater Nagalim is not acceptable to the Government of India.
Sources pointed out that the NSCN has been demanding vast areas of the States of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh as the outfit claimed that those were Naga inhabited areas. But the Government of India, on principle, is not ready to accept the demand. Only if the concerned States accept the demand, the Government of India can think in the same lines. But under the circumstances, no State would be ready to give up land and the Governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur have already passed resolutions in the State Assemblies against the creation of greater Nagalim. The Centre, on its part, is not willing to persuade the concerned State Governments to give up land for the creation of greater Nagalim, sources added.
The second core demand of the NSCN, which is not acceptable to the Government of India is the demand for a separate constitution for Nagalim to protect the unique identity of the Naga people. Sources said that the Government is not willing to allow a State to have a separate constitution as it might lead to serious consequences in the days to come.
However, the Centre is willing to discuss the issue of expanding the scope of federalism for giving more powers to the States within the framework of the Constitution of India. Sources said that the Government is also ready to discuss issues like giving greater powers to the States over the natural resources. Sources said that apart from the two �core demands� of the NSCN, the other demands enlisted in the charter of demands are negotiable but the talks are deadlocked over the core demands. With the NSCN leadership also maintaining a rigid stand, no immediate solution to the issues is in sight, sources admitted.
However, on the positive side, sources revealed that the top leaders of the NSCN including chairman I Swu and general secretary T Muivah are now using Indian passports to travel abroad.
On the allegations of violation of ground rules of the ceasefire agreement by the NSCN members, official sources said that two committees are in place for monitoring the implementation of the ground rules. One committee is entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the situation in Nagaland and the other, headed by a Special Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible to deal with any violation outside Nagaland. The allegations leveled against the NSCN members for violation of ground rules are taken up with the leaders of the outfit from time to time. �On some occasions, the NSCN leaders simply deny the allegations and sometimes they assure to discipline their cadres,� sources added.
It may be mentioned here that the NSCN general secretary Muivah reportedly told the cadres of the outfit in camp Habron yesterday that solution to the Naga problem would not be possible within the framework of the Constitution of India.
