By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry has issued a clarification regarding Naga settlement issue. It has come to notice of the Government that lots of rumours and misinformation is being spread in media including social media that final Naga settlement has been arrived at and will be announced soon. This is creating anxiety and concern in some parts of the country, the MHA said.
It is clarified that before any settlement is arrived at with Naga groups, all stakeholders including States of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will be duly consulted and their concerns will be taken into consideration. No credence needs to be given to such rumours and incorrect information, it said.
Naga interlocutor R.N. Ravi said that discussions to finalise the Naga accord continue and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) [NSCN-IM] had come on board.
Ravi, who is also the Nagaland Governor, told The Hindu, “the accord has not been finalised yet. Matters are under discussion. NSCN-IM has come on board.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been apprised about the latest developments and some kind of agreement with all groups including NSCN-IM will be signed soon, a senior government official said.
The NSCN-IM has been fighting for ‘Greater Nagaland’ or Nagalim — it wants to extend Nagaland’s borders by including Naga-dominated areas in neighbouring Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh — to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The Centre has however, ruled out any disintegration of the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur in order to merge the Naga-inhabited areas with the existing State of Nagaland.
