Nagaland along with two other northeastern states - Meghalaya and Tripura - will go to the polls in February next year, but there is no remote chance of any breakthrough in the decades old Naga peace talks before the elections, a top government source said on Wednesday.
While the Nagaland government, different political parties, NGOs as well as civil society groups have been demanding for an early solution to the decades old Naga political issue, dominant Naga group NSCN-IM remains firm that without meeting the demand for a separate Naga flag and constitution, the vexed issue will not be resolved.
The NSCN-IM's demand was earlier rejected on a number of occasions by former government interlocutor and then Nagaland Governor, R.N. Ravi.
A top government source said that no breakthrough is likely to be achieved in the ongoing Naga peace talks before the Assembly elections next year.
"Naga negotiators have returned to Kohima from New Delhi without any breakthrough and the talks are likely to resume only after the festive season (Christmas)," the source told IANS on condition of anonymity.
He said the Nagaland government has already told the Naga groups and all the stakeholders that if a solution is not reached before the elections, the state government should not be blamed as it is only the facilitator and the ball is in the Central government's court.
The Centre has been holding separate talks with the NSCN-IM and the working committee of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) since 1997 and 2017, respectively.
A 'framework agreement' was signed with the NSCN-IM in August 2015, and the 'agreed position' with NNPGs in November 2017.
While NNPGs have agreed to accept a solution and continue the dialogue, the NSCN-IM has remained firm on its demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas, which has been delaying a final solution.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio recently said that the state remained backward in all areas of development as compared to other states, and this was due to the unresolved Naga political issue.
"Even if the Central government and the NNPGs sign a final peace accord or settlement, there will be no real peace if the Nagas cannot act as one people," the Chief Minister had said.
Even after over 80 rounds of talks between the Centre and the Naga groups, dominated by the NSCN-IM, there is still a stalemate over the contentious issue of separate Naga flag and constitution.
AAP on streets to save accused, says Swati Maliwal
AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal on Sunday while reflecting on the past 12 years since the horrific Nirbhaya case, said that 'they are now out on the streets to save the accused who made the CCTV footage disappear and formatted the phone'.
Captain Gopichand, five others set to fly to edge of space aboard Blue Origin mission
Captain Gopichand Thotakura, along with five others, is set to fly to the edge of space on Blue Origin's crewed flight mission on Sunday evening.
Air India Express flight's engine catches fire, makes emergency landing
The Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Kochi had to make a full-scale emergency landing at Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) due to a fire in one of its engines.
Security beefed up at BJP headquarters, traffic diversions made: Delhi Police
Delhi Police on Sunday beefed up security at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters here ahead of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's call for a protest march.
Scorching heatwaves: Rajasthan's Barmer, UP's Kanpur hottest at 46.9 deg C
Rajasthan's Barmer and Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur recorded the maximum temperature of 46.9 degrees Celsius on Saturday, making the two districts the hottest in the country.
Terrorists kill former sarpanch in Shopian, injure tourist couple in Anantnag
Terrorists killed a former sarpanch in J&K's Shopian district on Saturday besides injuring a non-local tourist couple in Anantnag district.
Four generations ruled Delhi but today they can’t even contest four seats: PM Modi rips into Congress
Taking a jab at the grand old party, PM Modi said, “Four generations of Congress ruled the country, but today they are reduced to such a state that they can’t even contest four Lok Sabha seats in Delhi.”
One held with gold biscuits worth Rs 36 lakh
In the fight against the menace of trans-border smuggling in the state of Tripura, BSF on May 18, arrested one smuggler and seized 04 gold biscuits worth Rs 36.6 lakhs.