KOHIMA, Jan 24: The Nagaland government remains optimistic about resolving the decades-old Naga political issue in 2025, according to a senior minister. Senior government spokesperson K.G. Kenye stated that ongoing negotiations between the Centre and Naga groups have sparked hope for a resolution this year. He noted, “We are keeping our fingers crossed,” indicating cautious optimism about the possibility of a breakthrough.
Kenye revealed that the state government had learned through media reports that Naga groups recently traveled to Delhi for talks with the Union government. “We came to know through media reports that they (Naga groups) had gone to Delhi for talks with the Centre. The last consultative meeting between the state government and the Naga civil society organizations was held in September,” he shared. The Union government later invited the groups to Delhi for further discussions. However, Kenye confirmed that while some progress had been made, both sides had agreed to keep the details confidential at this stage.
He also mentioned the recent visit by the Centre’s interlocutor, A.K. Mishra, who met with NSCN-IM general secretary Th Muivah at his camp. Mishra was also in Nagaland last week to hold talks with the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), which is pushing for a separate Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) comprising six districts of the state.
When asked about the outcome of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding NSCN-IM leader Th Muivah’s warning of returning to the jungles if there is no positive progress in the talks, Kenye clarified that the meeting was to brief Shah on the growing public restlessness over the issue and to review the status of the ongoing dialogues. Kenye emphasized that Muivah’s stance should not be viewed as alarming but as an assertion of the NSCN-IM’s position.
The NSCN-IM has consistently maintained that the 2015 framework agreement signed with the central government is the “only acceptable basis” for resolving the Naga political issue.
