Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has arrived at New Delhi on Monday on a three-day visit.
During his three-day Delhi tour, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will reportedly meet PM Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah.
He will also meet defence minister Rajnath Singh and national security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
Several key issues concerning the Northeast will be taken up by the Assam chief minister during his meetings with PM Modi, HM Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Doval.
The issue which is reported to be at the top of CM Sarma’s agenda will be the proposed talks with the Paresh Baruah-led ULFA-Independent.
According to reports, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma will take up the matter of talks with ULFA-I with PM Modi, HM Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval.
Also read: Minor girl in Assam’s Nagaon ‘commits suicide’ after receiving rape threats
Earlier during the Independence Day celebrations, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had appealed ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah to come forward to the negotiating table for the dialogue process.
“On behalf of the people of Assam, I appeal to Paresh Baruah to come forward for dialogue,” Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had said.
On the other hand, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convenor of NEDA (Northeast Democratic Alliance) is also likely to discuss the issue of Naga Peace Talks during his meetings.
The Naga Peace Process seems to have hit a roadblock once again, after the NSCN-IM recently in a strongly worded statement said that talks with the new central interlocutor AK Mishra failed to live up to the hype created and been unable to resolve Naga demands for a separate flag and a constitution.
“…the talks failed to live up to all the hype as the Government of India continues to indulge in political escapism on the very issues that is holding up the road to the Naga solution,” said the outfit.
Also read: CBI court grants bail to son of former Assam CM in alleged loan default case
Terming the Centre’s stand on NSCN-IM’s demand unfortunate, the NSCN alleged that the Government of India is still pretentiously acting stubborn as the crucial rounds of talks that focused on the Naga flag and the Constitution is driven to hang in balance.
Separate flag and constitution for Nagaland are the two main demands of the NSCN-IM, which have been rejected by the Centre.
The outfit argued that the flag was “not just a piece of cloth” to the Nagas, but a symbol “of the Naga nation’s pride and values.”
NSCN-IM said it was not “impressed” with the Centre’s offer that the flag be accepted as a “cultural symbol”.