"Clear that distrust has crept in": Former PM Deve Gowda on Naga Peace Talks

Guwahati: Former Prime Minister H. D. Dev Gowda on Monday expressed his concern over the Centre's negotiations with Nsationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isaak-Muivah) to resolve the Naga problem running into "rough weather". 

"Newspaper reports indicate that the Union government's negotiations with NSCN (IM) to resolve the Naga problem has run into rough weather. From recent statements made by those involved in the negotiations it is apparent that distrust has crept in," Gowda said in a statement, adding that he hopes "distrust" is put aside and a peace accord is reached at the earliest.

Gowda in his statement added that the ceasefire agreement in 1997, which followed his meeting as Prime Minister with Naga leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah in Zurich, in February that year, was a result of "constructive diplomacy."

"We should ensure that the progress made in the last 23 years by successive governments is not forsaken now", H. D. Deve Gowda stated, adding "there is the Constitution and also the 2015 framework agreement, which should help its move towards a solution."

This comes at a time when the NSCN (IM) has attacked the Nagaland Governor and interlocutor for Naga peace talks R N Ravi, accusing him of converting a political issue into a law and order problem and adopting a "stratagem" that resulted in the killing and arrest of its members.

In a statement, the NSCN (IM), which has been engaged in peace negotiations with the Centre for the last 23 years, also alleged that Ravi was trying to divide the Naga people and "misled" the central government and a parliamentary standing committee on the framework agreement signed on August 3, 2015.

Stating that he sincerely hopes that distrust is put aside, talks continue, and a peace accord is reached at the earliest, Gowda said, "the people of the North East deserve to live in harmony and witness economic progress."

After signing of the Framework Agreement in 2005, former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda it as a "major achievement" to usher peace in the region.

"This peace accord with Naga insurgent groups is one of the major decisions to bring peace in the North-Eastern states in general, particularly Nagaland," he told reporters.

Reminding that the initiation of talks with Naga groups happened during his tenure as Prime Minister, he recalled his meeting with leaders of the groups in Switzerland and various steps taken by his government for peace in the region that included the announcement of a package.

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