Nagaland CM calls on Rajnath Singh

Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang on Friday called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and urged a solution to the longstanding Naga political problem ahead of the February-March 2018 elections to the 60-member assembly.

"It has been 20 years of negotiations and it is important that the settlement of the Naga political issue is initiated before the next elections," the Chief Minister told Singh.

He was accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues and Nagaland's lone Lok Sabha member Neiphiu Rio.

The Union Home Minister said he hoped the "settlement of the Naga political issue will be done soon".

Later, the Centre's interlocutor for Naga peace talks, R.N. Ravi, explained to Zeliang and his Ministers at the Nagaland House here that they were very near to arriving at solution to cruicial issues and it was essential that all parties were involved in the final parleys to ensure peaceful and long-lasting solution.

Ravi told the Naga leaders that most substantial issues have been resolved and only symbolic issues need final resolution.

The interlocutor exhorted them to impress upon all parties the need for an early solution.

On August 3, 2015, the central government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland's Issac Muivah faction signed the Framework Agreement. However, neither side released its details.

The separatist group has been in talks with the government since 1997 after the signing of a ceasefire agreement.

--IANS

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