Naga group urges Centre to finalise peace deal this year

NNPG urges Union government to finalize Naga peace pact with provisions for separate passport page and bicameral legislature.

The Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) said on Thursday (October 31, 2024) that the Union government should finalise the Naga peace pact according to the terms of the agreement signed with the group in 2019, the provisions of which include a separate page in Indian passports for the Nagas and a bicameral legislature in Nagaland.

The NNPG said on October 31 that the political solution reached with the Union government fully recognised the Naga identity, with a separate page in the Indian passport, a separate contingent of Nagas in all international events and an enhanced representation in both Houses of Parliament.

The NNPG, which is the second group after the influential Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) to engage in peace talks with the Union government, signed an “Agreed Position” on October 31, 2019, with the then Naga interlocutor, R.N. Ravi, currently Tamil Nadu’s Governor.

“The NNPG hopes that the Government of India will complete the signing of the agreement in 2024 itself,” a statement by the NNPG, which comprises seven groups said.

It said the ‘Agreed Position’ had the status of an “intergovernmental agreement” as the NNPG working committee had signed it with Mr. Ravi, who was holding a Cabinet rank in the government.

Earlier, Mr. Ravi, on behalf of the Union government, signed a framework agreement with the NSCN-IM in 2015.

An NNPG functionary said the talks concluded in 2019. After Mr. Ravi who was also holding the charge of Nagaland Governor was transferred to Tamil Nadu in 2021, no interlocutor has been appointed. Both groups presently communicate with former Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer A.K Mishra who is the Centre’s “representative”.