In yet another attempt of the Core Committee on Naga Political issue (CCoNPI) to give the last push to bring a solution to the vexed Indo Naga political issue, a 9-member delegation of the Committee led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio met NEDA Convenor and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 7 September in Guwahati, Assam.

The meeting which lasted for almost an hour deliberated on the Naga political issue, the border dispute between Nagaland and Assam, ENPO’s demand for a separate statehood and the 26 August resolution of ENPO to abstain from participating in the upcoming 2023 general assembly elections.

Highly placed sources informed that the NEDA Convenor held a meeting with the NSCN-IM led by VS Atem on 24 August at Guwahati, and Sarma had conveyed to the Core Committee that there is a vast gap between the NSCN-IM and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s concept.

“The core committee is trying to find way for a meeting point,” the source said.

As the 2023 general assembly election is fast approaching, the core committee is meeting the central leaders to convey to them to expedite the political process and bring about a logical conclusion before the election as talks cannot go on forever.

On the demand of the ENPO for a separate statehood and its 26 August resolution, sources said the Committee briefed Sarma on the demand of ENPO and since this matter is a new case for him, Sarma said he will have to study the case further.

“This is a new case for him, he doesn’t know much but if there is anything to say to the Union Home Minister, he will try to put in a word but he said he needs to study the case further,” the source added.

The 9-member delegation of the core committee is already camping in the National capital and is scheduled to meet the Union Home Minister on 9 September. The committee is also said to be seeking an appointment with the Prime Minister.