NEW DELHI, Feb 11 � Within hours of receiving positive signals from NSCN (I-M), the Centre on Thursday announced appointment of former Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary R S Pandey as the new interlocutor for talks with the Naga militant outfit.
Pandey, an IAS officer of 1972 batch of Nagaland cadre, is the third interlocutor to be appointed to handle the Naga peace process that completes 13 years. Former Governor of Mizoram and eminent lawyer, Swaraj Kaushal was the first interlocutor. He was succeeded by K Padmanabhaiah.
Home Ministry�s decision to remove Padmanabhaiah had led to a logjam following a stiff opposition by the Naga rebel group. The Centre still went ahead and last week the Home Ministry had announced its plans to appoint a new interlocutor.
�The Government of India welcomes the decision of the NSCN (IM) leadership to visit India and to hold talks with the Government. I am happy to announce the appointment of R.S.Pandey, IAS (retd) as the Interlocutor and the Representative of the Government of India to hold talks with the NSCN (IM),� Union Home Minister, P Chidamabaram said in a brief statement.
Pandey retired as the Petroleum Secretary on January 31 and Centre reckons, he should be acceptable to the NSCN (I-M), given his vast experience of serving in Nagaland. The former bureaucrat has his work cut out and given the complexities involved. The Centre and NSCN (I-M) leadership have had held 60 rounds of negotiations so far.
