All the Naga tribe leaders are now in New Delhi putting up a long list of appointments to meet Central leaders to press for the early resolution of the Naga issue.

This time the UNC has with them one point to be put before the Central leaders which is the integration of the Naga inhabited areas.

The Naga leaders from Manipur under the aegis of the United Naga Council have already met Union Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee, DONER minister PR Kyndiah and Union Home minister Shivraj Patil in the last two days.

Reports received from the UNC sources in New Delhi disclosed that the Naga leaders will meet Oscar Fernandes tomorrow and the Prime Minister on December 15.

The meetings with the Central leaders including the Prime Minister are crucial as the next round of talks between the government of India and the NSCN-IM leadership are slated for December 16 in the Thai capital.

Sources said that the UNC leaders are on the move to place before New Delhi that the Naga areas should be brought under a single administrative unit as the first step to bring solution to the more than half a decade old political struggle of the Nagas.

Sources further said that the UNC leaders had told some of the Central leaders they met that “there is no going back from the people's commitment and aspiration on Naga unification”.

The Naga leaders had also submitted a copy each of the November 4 Naga People's Convention in Senapati to the Central leaders they met and the same would also be submitted to the Prime Minister and others who the UNC is scheduled to meet in the coming days.

PTI adds from Delhi: With Naga militant outfit NSCN (IM) stepping up pressure for a final political settlement within the current ceasefire spell, a delegation of United Naga Council of Manipur yesterday met Home Minister Shivraj Patil and pressed for unification of all Naga-inhabitated areas.

Maintaining their demand for a “Greater Nagaland”, the apex body of the Nagas in Manipur requested the Home Minister to take “concrete” and “visible” steps within a specific time frame in resolving the vexed issue.

“We requested the Home Minister to take concrete and visible steps towards integration of all Naga-dominated areas,” said Mani Charenamei, MP from Outer Manipur constituency, after the meeting.

NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah had recently threatened to call off the peace talks with the Centre if New Delhi failed to reach a final political settlement of the vexed Naga issue within the current spell of the ceasefire, which expires on January 31.

Asked about Patil’s response, he said the Home Minister assured the delegation that Government had been trying their best to find a solution to the Naga issue.

The delegation met Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on December 9 and submitted a memorandum requesting early settlement of the 59-year-old Naga struggle.

It will meet the Prime Minister on Dec 15, he said.

Charenamei had recently raised the issue in Parliament and urged the Centre to unify the Naga areas saying “integration of Naga territories is not illegal and uncon-stitutional in the context of the Indian Constitution”.

Source: E-Pao