Naga talks in right direction: Rio

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said the on-going talks between the Centre and NSCN(I-M) was on right direction.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said the on-going talks between the Centre and NSCN (I-M) was on right direction and the parleys were being held "without any pre-condition" to find an honourable settlement to the vexed Naga political problem.

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"The on-going peace talks in New Delhi, for the first time, is being held without any pre-condition. Earlier to this, the government of India always insisted that peace talks be held within the framework of the constitution," the chief minister told the state assembly.
Rio said the peace talks were held for the first time at a political level with a group of ministers representing the Centre formally being engaged in the parleys with NSCN (I-M).

Replying to the debate on the governor's address, Rio last evening told the House that his government had been giving and would continue to give highest priority to the honourable settlement of the Naga political problem in a manner acceptable to the Naga people.

He refuted the opposition charges that due to the "policy of equicloseness" to all underground groups adopted by the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government, there was a sharp polarisation in the Naga society and arms confrontation among underground faction escalated during the past two years.

The chief minister asserted that the cease-fire with both the NSCN groups was continuing to hold good, with no armed conflicts between security forces and underground groups during past two years.