Dimapur, Feb. 14: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has claimed that Lok Sabha member from Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio was on Monday last “specifically requested to diffuse the situation in Nagaland so as to bring normalcy without delay.”
An NPF press release on Tuesday claimed that this request was made by the Interlocutor to the Indo-Naga peace talks, RN Ravi and “Ajit Duval” (Doval), the National Security Advisor. According to the NPF: “Rio was told in no uncertain manner that ‘the question of changing the present leadership in Nagaland does not arise’ and that he, as an MP, should ‘work hand in hand with Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang to ease the tension.’”
It quoted Rio as saying that he “could not do much,” though –according to the NPF – he was “told that there have been ‘reports from various quarters’ that he was behind the movement.” it also cited “BJP sources” as saying that the union home minister ‘had also indicated to Rio that he must do all he can to ease the weeks-long social unrest.’ It also claimed that “a group of NTAC and JCC leaders are proposed to head to the national Capital.”