Kohima: Assam Chief Minister and North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Convener Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio held closed-door meetings with the NSCN (I-M) leadership in Dimapur as part of the peace process with the insurgent group.
According to sources, Sarma flew to Dimapur on Tuesday to meet Rio, Nagaland government officials and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) leaders led by Thingaleng Muivah, ‘Ato Kilonser (prime minister) and Chief Negotiator.
Sarma first went to Rio’s private residence at Sovima in Dimapur to meet some Nagaland legislators from BJP and Naga Peoples’ Front and reportedly discussed the political situation in the state.
Later, both the Chief Ministers left for Chumoukedima to hold talks with NSCN-IM leaders. After the meeting, Rio and Sarma headed straight for Niathu Resort in Dimapur, where they held another closed-door meeting with AK Mishra, the Centre’s representative and former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau.
The Assam Chief Minister was earlier given a green signal by the Centre to be a part of the Naga peace process. AK Mishra, the Centre’s representative and former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau, also attended the closed-door meeting.
Later talking to media persons at Niathu Resort, the Nagaland Chief Minister said the meeting with the NSCN (I-M) leaders was “very positive”.
He said the Assam Chief Minister had conveyed the message of Union Home Minister Amit Shah that a solution needed to have arrived at the earliest and the Centre was open to discussions with the NSCN (IM) leadership.
Rio said, “Talks are now on the right track and it was decided that the talks will now be held in Delhi.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are committed to ensuring lasting peace in the North East, he added.
