Naga talks hit by lack of mediator: G Kaito

KOHIMA: The Nagaland government is not a party to peace talks or political negotiations between the Centre and "underground groups", according to state home minister G Kaito. In his reply to Congress MLA Tokheho in the state assembly on Friday, the home minister said, around 68 rounds of talks had been held between the Centre and rebel groups. He, however, added, that the non-appointment of an interlocutor by the Centre had thrown a spanner in the work.

The Congress MLA had said the NPF-led DAN government had been voted to power for three consecutive terms on its promise of providing a solution to the Naga political issue. He added that 12 years had passed and the government had yet to keep its promise. He also cautioned the ruling bench that if a solution had to be brought about by amending the Constitution, all political parties in the country needed to be taken into confidence. Intervening in the debate, Nagaland chief minister Rio said a Joint Legislature Forum (JLF), comprising 60 legislators, had resolved to pursue the Naga political issue and the DAN government was the "facilitator" between the Centre and the "underground groups."