Naga group hopes for deal, govt refuses to relax deadline

GUWAHATI: Disparate voices emerged on Tuesday from the amphitheatre of the Naga peace talks, with one of the groups representing the community describing the negotiations with the Centre as “fruitful” and holding out hope for a deal by October 31 even as the NSCN (I-M) ruled it out.
Adding to the confusion, 22 NSCN (I-M) members from the Konyak region of Nagaland crossed over to the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG), with which the Centre has been engaged in talks alongside negotiations with the more conspicuous insurgent group. It was the second setback for the NSCN (I-M) after 17 of its members, including four senior functionaries, joined the NNPG.
Alezo Venuh, the interlocutor on behalf of the seven Naga groups, led the day’s first round of negotiations with Nagaland governor RN Ravi, who is the Centre’s interlocutor. “The government is firm on its deadline. It has made it clear that October 31 will be the last date for discussions. The actual signing of the agreement will take some time, though. We have to complete some formalities,” he told TOI later. “We had a fruitful discussion today. On our part, we are working out everything before October 31.”
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References

1. ^{^} amphitheatre (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
2. ^{^} Nagaland (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

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