Members of the parliamentary working committee of the Naga Legislators Forum. Telegraph picture
The parliamentary working committee of the Nagaland Legislators Forum (NLF), led by Speaker Chotisuh Sazo, left for New Delhi today to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh and apprise them about the need to expedite the ongoing peace process and urge the Centre to revive ceasefire with the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), which abrogated the truce in March.
The working committee comprises lawmakers from all political parties, including chief minister T.R. Zeliang, former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio and Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi. All 60 MLAs of the House are members of the NLF.
Sources said the Naga lawmakers are in a hurry to meet the central leaders before the situation deteriorates, as the NSCN (K) was expected to carry out more attacks in the state and Naga inhabited areas in other states.
Zeliang has already expressed resentment over the Centre's half-hearted approach to carry forward the peace process with the NSCN (K) , which signed a truce with the Centre on April 28, 2001.
Sources said the members of the working committee would also apprise the Prime Minister and home minister of the need to declare ceasefire with all Naga groups, besides the state government's proposal to send a delegation comprising members from Naga Hoho and Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) to Myanmar, to meet Khaplang and urge him to resume truce talks with the Centre.
The Naga lawmakers will also ask the Centre to revoke the Disturbed Area Act, which was declared in Nagaland recently by the Centre without consulting the state government.
Several Naga organisations have condemned the Centre's unilateral act when the state already has the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in effect for decades.
Sources said the working committee would also ask the Centre for security of the Naga delegation in Myanmar.
The breakaway faction of the NSCN (K), the NSCN (Reformation) said it was not the decision of Khaplang faction to abrogate the truce but was masterminded by Ulfa and a section of Nagaland-based NSCN (K) cadres, who decided to snap the ceasefire to extort money and fill their coffers.
The state budget session, which begins on July 21, will also discuss the Naga political issue.