Intelligence Bureau Chief tasked with bringing Naga Peace Talks back on track

Intelligence Bureau Director Arvind Kumar has been tasked by PM Modi to bring the apparently derailed talks back on track
File photo

File photo

Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Office is reportedly "disturbed" over the standoff in the Naga peace talks between Nagaland Governor RN Ravi, who is also the centre's interlocutor, and the Naga staholders.

As per reports in various sections of the media, the Intelligence Bureau chief has been tasked with bringing about an amicable solution to the protracted peace talks.

Intelligence Bureau Director Arvind Kumar has been tasked to bring the apparently derailed talks back on track, reports said.

It is being felt that the talks, in the past 10 or 11 months, have not been going well with Ravi at the helm.

As per office, the PMO has also asked IB Special Director Akshay Kumar Mishra to join the firefighting effort.

There is a general feeling that an impasse has been reached between the NSCN(IM), the largest of the rebel groups, RN Ravi and the new National Naga Political Groups (NNPG), a conglomeration of smaller groups.

The fact Governor Ravi openly targeted the elected government in Nagaland, which is a BJP alliance partner, has also reportedly not gone down well.

Ruffling several feathers on India's 74th Independence Day, Ravi had said, "Nagaland is endowed with one of the finest human and natural resources. Unfortunately, today it has the dubious distinction of the worst-performing state in the country, including the northeast region, on almost all significant indicators of human development".

There is a general perception that the interlocutor was favouring the NNPG over NSCN(IM) did not help matters.

The NNPG had in March urged the interlocutor to sign the delayed peace talks at the earliest "with or without" the NSCN-IM on board.

Last week, NSCN(IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah said the centre had recognised the sovereignty of the Nagas through the 2015 agreement.

Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM) has demanded R N Ravi's removal as the interlocutor of the peace talks.

"The interlocutor carries the mandate of the Prime Minister but, since RN Ravi created an imbroglio... the Prime Minister has given mandate to continue the talk to a team of IB (officials) as a fast-track channel", the group said in a statement on Sunday.

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