Rio made the statement while replying to the debate on the governor’s address in the Assembly. He claimed to have corrected the “wrong policy” of the erstwhile Congress government in Nagaland by maintaining “equi-closeness” with both factions of the NSCN and constituting a consultative committee for peace.

Just the other day, the Congress had cited the factional clashes as evidence of the Rio-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland’s failure to make any difference to the situation.

Rio said his government was happy with the progress of the peace talks between the NSCN (I-M) and Delhi for four specific reasons.

“The talks are now being held without any conditions attached. Secondly, the ceasefire with the NSCN groups continue to hold good. The third positive development is that a group of ministers is representing the Centre at the talks. That they have accepted the Naga problem as a political issue and recognised the unique history of the community is reason for optimism, too.”

The chief minister claimed security forces and Naga militants had not clashed in the last two years.

Congress legislator Taka Masa Ao said an activist of the NSCN (Khaplang) was killed in a factional clash in Mon district even as the Assembly was in session.

His colleague Man Chuba Chang asked the government why NGOs were silent on the peace process.

Source: The Telegraph