When contacted, Convenor of the Steering Committee (NSCN-IM), Qhevihe Swu, categorically denied such a development while also maintaining that no decision for any such move had been taken by the group.
According to reports in the national media, the Centre has secured a written commitment from the NSCN-IM that it will accept the Indian Constitution. The Naga group has also reportedly recognised the impracticality of redrawing State boundaries in the interest of peace in the North East.
Swu lashed out at the national media for what he called ‘spreading false propaganda’, while further alleging that such baseless report with malafide intent was aimed at misleading the public and to create disharmony in the Naga society.
Another NSCN-IM official, on condition of anonymity, berated the national media for publishing ‘wrong reports’ at the present juncture when peace talk process is at a crucial stage. He also said they should disclose their source of information while saying that the report is against the interest of the Nagas.
Strongly denying the news report, the official also maintained that no one is authorised to make such statements except the Indian Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, adding that the Indo-Naga peace talk is going on in a positive direction.
According to a report, senior NSCN-IM leader VS Atem, who is emissary to the collective leadership, refused to comment anything at this juncture. “This is not the right time to give comments. I will dwell on the matter another day, please don’t mind,” he said.
Meanwhile, a 20-member Joint Legislators Forum yesterday met several Central leaders, including Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Agriculture Minister Sarad Pawar and JD(U) president and NDA convenor Sarad Yadav and had a series of discussions on finding a solution to the protracted Naga political issue at the shortest possible time. The joint NPF-Congress team, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, demanded a permanent solution to the six-decade-old insurgency problem before the State Assembly election due next year.