There can be no peace without a separate flag and constitution, strict stance of Naga rebels

New Delhi, Saturday 19 September 2020

The Naga peace deal has once again been disrupted, with Nagaland's leading rebel group involved in the debate, the NSCN-IM, demanding a separate flag and constitution, the rebel group said on Friday, adding that it could not sign a respectable peace deal with the central government without a separate flag and constitution.

The NSCN-IMA held a joint press conference on Friday to discuss the historical and political rights of the Naga people and how to make the Indo-Naga political debate a success.

The meeting was held at the central headquarters in Hebron near Dimapur in Nagaland, the NSCN-IM’s tough stance came out at a time when the peace agreement has been affected as there are deep differences between the group and the negotiator Nagaland Governor RN Ravi.

The NSCN-IMA has issued a press release, unanimously adopting a resolution to reiterate the NSCN-IM's stance, that the Naga national flag and Yehzbao (constitution) should be part of the Indo-Naga agreement to make the Naga agreement respectable and acceptable.

The press release also said that the Center and NSCN-IM should seek a final agreement on the basis of the historical framework signed on August 3, 2015.

The chapter comes at a time when a delegation of top NSCN-IM leaders, including Secretary-General Thudlingeng Mudwa, is in New Delhi to pursue talks with Home Ministry and intelligence bureau officials without the Nagaland governor and the chief negotiator.