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G Vinayak in Guwahati
Purno Sangma, tipped to be the chief negotiator for northeast, said on Thursday that attempting to find a solution to the Naga insurgency in isolation will not lead to lasting peace.
"Negotiating with just one underground rebel group will not help find a lasting solution to the insurgency problem of the northeastern region," the former Lok Sabha speaker said.
Talking to a group of reporters, Sangma, who has already had a 'lengthy discussion' with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said he was in favour of taking to all the insurgent groups and also the state governments, political parties and the people of the region.
"I have already told the prime minister that negotiating with just one group will not bring permanent peace to the region. We should be able to talk to as many groups as possible," Sangma said.
He said negotiations must be conducted with a two-pronged strategy.
"On one hand we negotiate with the rebel groups, on the other we should also negotiate with the (central) government," he added.
He said this was needed because 'many a times the Centre fails to understand the region and its problems properly'.
He said during his meeting with Vajpayee he stressed the need to negotiate with all groups from the region, which was also one of the suggestions of the Northeast Members of Parliament Forum.
The Forum had, earlier last week, met in Delhi, during which it called for transparency in the dialogue process.
"The MPs from the region, in that meeting expressed the view that it is a rapid process of economic development that will ultimately usher in lasting peace to the northeast," Sangma said.
When asked whether there has been any opposition to his appointment from some Congress chief ministers of the region, or for that matter from the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah itself, Sangma said he was not aware of it.
"Nobody has opposed the prime minister's decision. Both Tarun Gogoi and SC Jamir have welcomed the move," Sangma said.
When pointed out whether an article written by Mani Shankar Iyer criticising the prime minister for inviting Sangma to take the initiative was also the view of Congress president Sonia Gandhi sent out indirectly, the former Lok Sabha speaker said he was not sure.
"But if someone sitting in 24 Akbar Road is opposing any move to find a solution to the northeast's problems, then it is terribly wrong. What's more important here is the opinion of the people and the leaders of the northeast. And they have nothing to do with Sonia Gandhi as such," Sangma said.
When asked why he was not sent to Amsterdam for the latest round of talks with the NSCN-IM, Sangma said it was up to the prime minister to decide.
"But I have been keeping myself abreast of the developments. After all, the prime minister has taken a decision and has requested me to take up the responsibility," he added.
Complete coverage of the Naga truce issue
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