Nagaland CM presses Centre on peace talks, finances, PAP, FMR
According to official reports, the Centre is likely to appoint a Minister of State for Home Affairs and assign senior Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officers to fast-track the Naga peace talks.
Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio led a high-level official delegation to New Delhi comprising Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, members of the State Cabinet, and members of the Sub-Committee of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC).
The delegation held meetings with senior Central leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, among others.
During the meeting with the Union Home Minister, Members of Parliament Supongmeren Jamir (Lok Sabha) and Phangnon Konyak (Rajya Sabha) also participated as members of the PAC Sub-Committee. The delegation raised several important and pertinent issues with the Government of India.
On the Indo-Naga peace process, the Chief Minister reiterated that, in line with the four-point resolutions adopted at the Consultative Meeting on the Naga Political Issue held on September 12, 2024, the talks had been declared as negotiations at the highest level. He stressed the need to restore dialogue at the highest political level through the appointment of an interlocutor of political or ministerial rank to expedite talks towards an early and honourable solution. The Union Home Minister responded positively and indicated that a Minister of State for Home Affairs along with officers from the Home Ministry would be assigned to the Naga talks.
Currently, AK Mishra, Adviser to the MHA on Northeast Affairs, is holding talks on behalf of the Centre with various Naga political groups, including the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM).
On the financial pattern for Nagaland, the Chief Minister highlighted the state’s financial position and recalled that Nagaland, formed out of a political agreement, was assured under the 16-Point Agreement that funds required for administration and development would be borne by the Consolidated Fund of India.
In his official representation, Rio stated, “When Nagaland became a State in 1963, it was recognised as a special case because of its history, political context, and limited economic base at the time… Subsequently, however, the withdrawal of this arrangement in 1989, without dialogue or concurrence of the State, disrupted the foundational understanding. Over time, this has placed Nagaland in a structurally vulnerable fiscal position requiring resource gap funding in the form of Revenue Deficit Grants, amongst others.”
He appealed for restoration of the earlier financial arrangement. The Union Home Minister assured that the request would be positively considered, while the Union Finance Minister also assured support from the Government of India.
The Chief Minister further raised the issue of lifting the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime and sought relaxation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR). Quoting Cabinet deliberations and multiple representations made to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rio urged a review of the re-imposition of PAP in Nagaland. The Union Home Minister assured that the matter would be examined positively.
On the FMR, the Chief Minister noted Nagaland’s 215-kilometre international boundary with Myanmar and the traditional cross-border ties of Naga communities. He requested restoration of the earlier FMR guidelines, citing hardships faced by border communities. The Union Home Minister gave a patient hearing and assured a positive approach to the matter. (With DIPR inputs)
