Involve Nagaland Govt. in peace talks: Cong.(I)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 25. The Congress(I) leadership today lent a helping hand to the Nagaland Government by interceding with the Centre on its behalf. A Congress(I) delegation met the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee and urged him to involve the Nagaland Government in the peace negotiation with the ultras in the State.

The delegation which included senior leaders such as Mr. Manmohan Singh, Mr. Madhavrao Scindia, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Mr. Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, Mr. Santosh Mohandeb, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyer and Mrs. Ambika Soni, demanded the Prime Minister's intervention on three issues. It wanted Mr. Vajpayee to ensure that the usual rules of ceasefire should apply during the negotiations, participation of all the factions and not just the NSCNI , besides demanding that the State Government be consulted and kept informed.

Briefing newspersons this afternoon the CPP spokesperson, Mrs. Margaret Alva, referred to the appeal made by the former Prime Ministers for the unconditional release of Mr. T. Muniavah,`` those asking for his release are perhaps not aware of the ground realities '' said Mrs. Alva. She said the NSCNI was responsible for the ongoing killings, harassment of innocents.`` Extortion, kidnapping and ransom are the order of the day'' said the spokesperson.

Accusing the outfit of bringing out hitlists everyday to terrorise the people and the local authorities, Mrs. Alva also referred to the fact that the NSCNI had threatened the government that if the warrant against their leader was not withdrawn it would take whatever measures it thought fit against the State Government.

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