A day after Naga leader Isak Chisi Swu (86), who led one of the worst insurgencies in the North East died at a city hospital due to multiple organ failure, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval visited the Nagaland House in Delhi to offer condolences to the family.
Naga peace talk interlocutor R.N. Ravi, who spoke at the condolence meet, drew a parallel of Mr. Swu with the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Mr. Ravi said that when he was appointed as the peace interlocutor two years ago he got clear directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that “Nagas should win” and the negotiations with the Naga group was “not a zero sum game.”
The Naga community in Delhi had organised a condolence meet at Nagaland House on Wednesday where T. Muivah, the general secretary of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) gave an emotional speech. “I had a 52-year-old association with Swu. When we understood that Indian leaders had become rational and might no longer despise the pride of the Naga people, we decided we have to sit for a solution. It was an opportunity as during (Jawaharlal) Nehru’s time, we were insulted, looked down upon,” Mr. Muivah said.
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Without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Muivah said, “now Indians are prepared to understand the Nagas and we cannot go on blaming the Indian leadership. The rationale approach that has come out must be understood,” Mr. Muivah said.
NSCN-IM had signed a framework agreement with the Government of India on August 3 last year to draw a permanent solution to the vexed Naga issue.
It was Mr. Muivah, the outfit’s general secretary who signed the framework agreement on behalf of the Naga outfit with interlocutor R.N Ravi in presence of the Prime Minister last year.
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