Naga talks : Key meet on Friday

TNN
GUWAHATI, Oct 16 : As the 22-year-old Naga talks between the Centre and NSCN(I-M) stand on shaky ground, all eyes are now on Friday's meeting between Nagaland Governor RN Ravi, the Interlocutor for the talks, and various stakeholders, including Church leaders, to prevent the peace process from collapsing.
Ravi had earlier announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi desires the final solution to be inked within three months, ending this month. But the final leg of the peace process plunged into a deep crisis after the Centre started a parallel discussion with six other Naga outfits, collectively known as Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), and even signed an interim agreement with them in 2017. In 2015, the Centre had signed a Framework Agreement with NSCN (I-M).
While the NSCN(I-M) wants integration of Naga-inhabited areas beyond the geographical boundaries of Nagaland, the rival NNPGs want a solution for the Nagas within Nagaland only.
In addition, NSCN-IM is firm on a separate flag and a constitution for the Nagas unlike the NNPGs. The last two rounds of discussion between the Centre, represented by Ravi, and the NSCN-IM leadership led by Thuingaleng Muivah on October 10 and 14 respectively, failed to break the deadlock over the demands of separate flag and Constitution for the Nagas.