Naga strategy: IB chiefs to meet PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet Centre’s interlocutor in the Naga peace process, K. Padmanabhiah, IB director A.K. Doval and IB...

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet Centre’s interlocutor in the Naga peace process, K. Padmanabhiah, IB director A.K. Doval and IB director-designate, E.S.L Narasimhan and other senior officials this week to work out a strategy for the forthcoming talks with Naga leaders.

The talks are slated to start from February 2. Officials said that while the issue of sovereignty has been largely worked out, the government will have to take a view on the integration of Naga inhabited areas.

A three-member Central team comprising Minister of State for Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes, Minister of State in the PMO Prithivraj Chauhan and Minister of State (Home) S.Regupathy would be briefed by officials on the Centre’s strategy. Special Advisor to PM, M.K. Narayanan and Narasimhan will also be involved in this process and are likely to assist the Central team during the week-long talks from behind the scene, sources said.

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Naga leaders are willing to consider the issue of sovereignty apart from the key areas of defence, foreign affairs, communication and currency. Both the parties understand the limit within which the talks can progress, a Ministry official told The Indian Express.

Sources said the overall strategy of the Centre would be to leave the contentious issues for later stages, and work out the issue where an agreement can be arrived at right away. While the talks are expected to last a week, Centre is keen to work out a solution for permanent peace in Nagaland and other North-Eastern states.

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