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Minister sees positive signs from Naga rebels

The dominant Naga separatist group has met senior government functionaries at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and is "inching towards accepting the Indian constitution", according to a senior minister.

  • IANS
  • Published: 00:08 July 14, 2008
  • Gulf News

Bhiwadi, Rajasthan: The dominant Naga separatist group has met senior government functionaries at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and is "inching towards accepting the Indian constitution", according to a senior minister.

"Top leaders of the NSCN-IM [National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah] recently met Home Minister Shivraj Patil and top officials of the PMO," Labour and Employment Minister Oscar Fernandes, a key interlocutor with the rebels, said.

In the last few rounds of talks, Indian government representatives have been trying to convince the NSCN-IM not to press for the unification of all Naga-inhabited areas in the northeast and their demand for sovereignty, considering the complexities and sensitivities.

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