Talks with NSCN(IM) for final settlement of Naga issue in advanced stage: Govt

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla recently informed that the talks with the NSCN (IM) for a final settlement of the decades-long Naga issue are in an advanced stage. The minister further informed that the government is providing all assistance to the northeastern states to deal with rebel groups

Ajay Kumar Bhall said that the central government is in peace negotiations with almost all groups of the Northeast, including the ULFA, and the major ones who could have been potentially used by China are holding talks.

“There could be potential but not that much. These people (insurgents) have lost that kind of massive support. The leadership of ULFA is back in Assam and talking to the government. The NSCN people, after the ceasefire, are sitting in Delhi and talking to us for the final settlement. We don’t see that kind of major disruptions coming,” he said in reply to a question on whether the government foresees China’s involvement in the eastern sector after the Ladakh standoff.

Troops of the Indian Army and China’s PLA are locked in a border standoff in eastern Ladakh since May. Twenty Indian Army soldiers were killed on 15 June in a clash with the PLA at Galwan valley.

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The home secretary said the situation in the northeastern region is “well under control” and the central government is providing assistance to the state governments in dealing with the insurgent groups.

“The government is providing assistance to the states to deal with the insurgent groups and also carrying out negotiations with the insurgent groups. There has been a settlement with the Bodos after a long struggle, talks are in an advanced stage with the NSCN to resolve the Naga issue,” he said.

Bhalla said in Tripura, the violence is nil now.

“The AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) is in force partially in Nagaland, Manipur and Assam and due to the improved security situation, it has been removed from Meghalaya and in Arunachal, only a few districts are under this act,” he said.

“It is a very positive development for the northeastern part of the country. Various groups are talking to the government. The government is pursuing the policy of talks with various groups.

“There has been a substantial improvement in the security situation in the Northeast in the last six years. In 2019, the region saw the lowest insurgency-related violence and casualties in terms of civilians and security forces personnel,” he said.

He also said the recently held elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, in which 65 percent population took part, was a major step towards initiating the development process.

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