Amidst ongoing negotiations between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM), reports had surfaced that the GOI had agreed to the eight-point charter of demands put forth by the Isak Muivah faction of the NSCN.
The demands were reported to include a separate constitution for Nagaland, separate passports and a separate flag. National Herald, the Congress mouthpiece, also peddled the rumours that the Government of India had conceded to the NSCN(IM)’s demands for a separate constitution and flag.
However, Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) and Centre’s Representative and Interlocutor for Naga peace talks, R.N. Ravi, has rubbished these reports. He told the Nagaland Post, one of the most widely circulated newspapers in the state, “These are all mischievous rumours. There is nothing in it.”
Ravi maintained that the demands for a separate constitution and flag remain unresolved. He further stated that negotiations were still undergoing and the final agreement could be signed at the earlier if the “Naga negotiators reciprocated with pragmatic flexibilities”.
The demands by the NSCN(IM) are longstanding demands of the Naga terrorists. Apart from separate flag and constitution, they want greater Nagalim which includes large parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. The neighbouring states are vociferously opposed to the idea of the Nagalim. No Indian government has, thus far, entertained the notions of conceding to these demands. It appears extremely unlikely that the current NDA government will even consider conceding to such far-fetched demands.
