GUWAHATI, March 22 - Though the Government of Assam has always been complaining that it was not kept in the loop in Naga talks, it failed to send its representatives for discussions on the issue after the Centre decided to keep all the stakeholders, including the governments of the neighbouring States informed about the progress of the talks.
Highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Assam Tribune that the Centre�s interlocutor for the Naga talks, RN Ravi, who is also the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), sent a letter to the Chief Secretary of Assam in the first week of this month calling for a meeting in New Delhi on March 18. Sources revealed that the State Government took its time in responding to the letter and only a couple of days before the scheduled date for the talks it sent a letter to the MHA informing that it would not be able to send its representatives for talks as elections were announced. The Assam Government said that it would be able to participate in the talks only after the election process is over.
Sources pointed out that there is no bar in discussing such issues even while the election process is on as the main idea was to keep the Government of Assam informed about the process. The State Government�s views on certain issues were also vital for the solution of the Naga political problem, sources added.
MHA sources said that the Centre is keen on keeping all the stakeholders on the loop during the process of Naga talks. Sources revealed that the Government of India has already made it clear to the leaders of the NSCN (I-M) that redefining the boundaries of States would not be possible. Now the leaders of the NSCN (I-M) are demanding empowerment of the Naga people living in the neighbouring States without affecting the boundaries of the States, and for that consultation with the State governments is a must.
Sources pointed out that there are some Naga-inhabited areas in Assam also and the issue of their empowerment cannot be decided without thorough consultation with the State Government. For that, the State Government would have to be first informed about the progress of the talks and the Centre�s views on the related issues. However, with the Assam Government refusing to send its representatives for the first round of meeting, the whole process would be delayed.
Sources disclosed that the Centre has been receiving full cooperation from the Governments of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The Centre�s interlocutor had several rounds of talks with both the Government officials and civil society members of both Manipur and Arunachal and the consultations are �progressing well�.
