The Manipur government had requested the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to make available a copy of the draft agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) to the state government to facilitate it to express its views, an official release said on Wednesday.
“The state government had earlier requested the MHA to make available a copy of the draft agreement with the NSCN-IM to the state government at least one month before the date fixed for a consultation so that it may be in a position to express its views and comments,” the release stated.
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“On the Naga issue, there is no discussion yet between Manipur and the Central government,” the release said.
According to officials in Nagaland, a nine-member team of NSCN-IM led by its chief negotiator Thuingaleng Muivah has been holding informal talks with the Centre since early last week in New Delhi as a prelude to the formal parleys expected to begin soon.
Some significant development on the issue is expected by September.
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Meanwhile, home ministry officials and the Nagaland government refused to say anything on the talks.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had earlier asserted that the Centre’s ongoing peace talks with the NSCN-IM in Delhi won’t affect the territorial boundaries of his state.
Various civil society organisations in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have strongly voiced their opposition to any decision that affected the territorial boundaries of these states.
Meanwhile, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has reiterated that there are no Nagas in their state, as claimed by the NSCN-IM.
It asserted that any “territorial changes” while finding a solution to the Naga problem would not be tolerated.